| Roland Scholten | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Nickname | The Flying Dutchman |
| Born | 11 January 1965 The Hague, Netherlands |
| Home town | The Hague Netherlands |
| Darts information | |
| Playing darts since | 1990s |
| Darts | 21g Datadart Roland Scholten |
| Laterality | Right-handed |
| Walk-on music | Chelsea Dagger - Fratellis |
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |
| BDO | 1992 - 1999 |
| PDC | 1999 - present |
| Current world ranking | 47 |
| BDO majors - best performances | |
| World Ch'ship | Semi-finals 1998 |
| World Masters | Semi-finals 1996 |
| World Darts Trophy | Last 16 2007 |
| Int. Darts League | Semi-finals 2006 |
| PDC premier events - best performances | |
| World Ch'ship | Quarter-finals 2001, 2003 |
| World Matchplay | Semi-finals 2006 |
| World Grand Prix | Runner-up 2001 |
| Grand Slam | Last 16 2007 |
| Premier League | Runner-up 2006 |
| Ch'ship League | Initial groups, 8th, 2008 |
| Desert Classic | Semi-finals 2002, 2008 |
| European Ch'ship | First round 2008 |
| UK Open | Winner 2004 |
| US Open/WSoD | Quarter-finals 2007 |
| Other tournament wins | |
| Tournament | Years |
| World Cup Open Sweden |
1993 |
| Updated on 30 October 2008. | |
Roland Scholten (born 11 January 1965 in The Hague) is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC. Scholten turned full time professional in 2001 and formerly worked as a publican. Despite his Dutch nationality, Scholten speaks with a strong English accent having lived in Peterborough for several years. His considerable height and throwing technique means his darts hit the board at a considerably narrow angle.
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Scholten was runner-up in the 1992 Austrian Open, losing to Rod Harrington. He then won the 1993 WDF World Cup, beating Denmark's Troels Rusel in the final. Scholten made his BDO World Championship debut in 1994 where he beat Sean Palfrey in the first round and became the only seed to progress to the second round where he lost to Ronnie Sharp. He followed up with a quarter final showing in the 1994 Winmau World Masters, beating Stefan Eeckelaert and Derek Hampton before losing to Steve Beaton. He then suffered a first round exit in the 1995 World Championship, losing to Colin Monk and reached the second round of the 1995 World Masters, again beating Palfrey in the first round but lost to fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.
In the 1996 World Championship, Scholten beat Mark Salmon 3-0 in the first round but lost in the second round to then-defending champion Richie Burnett. Scholten won three Open tournaments in 1996, winning the North Holland Open, the Swedish Open and the prestigious British Open. He then reached the semi finals on the 1996 World Masters, losing to the eventual winner Monk. Scholten then reached the quarter finals of the 1997 World Championship, beating former finalist Mike Gregory and Bobby George before losing to Mervyn King. He reached the final of the England Open and the Swedish Open and his British Open defence ended in the quarter finals. Scholten, with partner van Barneveld won the PDC World Pairs Championship at Bognor Regis in 1997, beating the pairing of Burnett and Harrington in the final.
In the 1998 World Championship, Scholten reached the semi finals, beating fellow Dutchman Co Stompé, American Roger Carter and then Palfrey once more before losing to Burnett. In the 1999 World Championship, Scholten lost in the quarter final stage to Ronnie Baxter.
Shortly after the 1999 Embassy World Championship, Scholten left the BDO and switched to the PDC. He reached the final of the 2000 Antwerp Open, losing to Jamie Harvey. He made his PDC major debut in the 2000 World Matchplay, losing in the first round to Harrington. He also played in the 2000 World Grand Prix, also losing in the first round to Burnett.
He made his PDC World Championship debut in 2001, reaching the quarter finals, progressing with 3-0 wins over Shayne Burgess and Cliff Lazarenko before losing to Harrington 4-2. He then reached the second round of the 2001 World Matchplay and then reached his first major final in the 2001 World Grand Prix, beating Harrington, Lionel Richie, John Part and John Lowe before losing to Alan Warriner.
Scholten reached the second round of the 2002 World Championship, losing to Dave Askew. He then won his first PDC event in the 2002 Open Holland and reached the semi finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, losing to Baxter. In the 2002 World Matchplay he lost again in the second round, losing to Colin Lloyd. He then reached the quarter finals of the World Grand Prix, losing 4-0 to Andy Jenkins. A quarter final place in the 2003 World Championship followed as well as a semi final place in the 2003 UK Open, a quarter final showing in the 2003 Desert Classic and reaching the semi finals of the World Grand Prix. He also won the 2003 Eastbourne Pro and the Primus Masters but suffered a first round exit in the World Matchplay.
Scholten lost in the third round of the 2004 World Championship, losing his only match to Lionel Sams. After retaining his Eastbourne Open title, Scholten won his first major title the Budweiser UK Open in June. He beat Mark Dudbridge, Henry O'Neill, Denis Ovens, Warriner and Beaton before beating Part in the final.
Scholten reached the final of the 2006 Premier League. Having finished third in the league table, he then beat van Barneveld in the semi finals before losing to Phil Taylor.
Scholten has suffered with neck and shoulder problems since 2006 which have affected his performances. He suffered an early exit in the Championship of Darts and the European Championship. He then lost in the first round of the 2009 PDC World Championship, losing to Spain's Carlos Rodriguez which dropped him outside the world's top 16. In 2009 he had his shoulder operated and took a break from darts.[1] Scholten lost in the first round of the 2010 PDC World Championship 3-2 against Steve Hine.
He works as an expert for the German TV Station, Sport1, since the 2010 World Matchplay.[2]
Scholten beat Jamie Caven 3-1 in the first round of the 2012 World Championship, but was whitewashed in the next round, 0-4, by Wayne Jones.[3]