Denis Ovens

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Denis Ovens
Personal information
Nickname The Heat
Date of birth July 1, 1957 (1957-07-01) (age 50)
Place of birth Enfield, England
Home town Stevenage, England
Darts information
Playing darts since
Darts 19g Copper Pencil
Walk-on music The Heat Is On (1985) by Glen Frey
Organisation (see split in darts)
PDC since 2000
Current World Ranking 14
PDC Majors - Best Performances
World Ch'ship Quarter finalist 2005
World Matchplay Second round 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
World Grand Prix Second round 2001, 2003
UK Open Fifth round 2004, 2006
Desert Classic Quarter finalist 2002
Other Televised PDC events - Best Performances
Other Tournament Wins
Tournament Years
Ireland Open Classic 2007

Infobox last updated on: February 17, 2008.

Denis Ovens (born July 1, 1957 in Enfield) is an English darts player currently ranked number 19 in the PDC World Rankings. He is nicknamed The Heat and is now based in Stevenage Ovens is widely regarded as one of the most consistent players in the circuit, though he has as yet failed to convert his form from the circuit to the big stages on television. His constant second round exits in numerous televised tournaments has led him to be called by commentators as 'The Nearly Man'.

His one good run came in the 2005 PDC World Darts Championship, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to former World Masters champion Mark Dudbridge. He has since suffered three successive second round exits in the World Championship - against Steve Alker in 2006, against Alan Tabern in 2007 (in a thriller that went to a sudden death deciding leg, with Ovens narrowly missed a double 12 for a nine dart finish and a £15,000 bonus) and in 2008 against Dutchman Jan van der Rassel, after defeating Colin Monk in the first round.

[edit] Trivia

  • Ovens is known for his trademark unshaven looks. Ovens stated on ESPN's World Series of Darts that he kept shaving before a darts match and always lost, so he thought "Ok, don't shave".
  • Ovens is well known to darts fans as "Captain Hobo", in reference to his unkempt appearance.
  • Ovens is a devoted Chelsea fan and often wears a blue shirt in reference to this, much like fellow pro Kevin Painter who's a lifelong Ipswich Town fan.
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