1998 PDC World Darts Championship

Skol World Darts Championship
Tournament information
Dates	29 December 1997–4 January 1998
Venue	Circus Tavern
Location	Purfleet, Essex
Country	England, United Kingdom
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Sets Final – best of 11
Prize fund	£71,000
Winners share	£20,000
Champion(s)
Phil Taylor
«1997 1999»

The 1998 Skol World Darts Championship was held between 29 December 1997–4 January 1998 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex. Skol, who sponsored the inaugural event in 1994 returned as title sponsors - which they were to fulfil for the next five years.

Following an out-of-court settlement (Tomlin Order) during the summer of 1997, the World Darts Council (WDC) agreed to change its name to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and the tournament was thus the PDC World Darts Championship.

John Part, who won the first Embassy/BDO World Championship after the 1992/93 "split" had joined the PDC but failed to qualify beyond the group stage. Peter Manley had emerged as a rising talent in the PDC and was seeded 7th for the championship. He lost a close quarter-final to eventual finalist, Dennis Priestley. Priestley lost his third successive final to Phil Taylor - this defeat being the most convincing 6 sets to 0. Rod Harrington was the only player who managed to take any sets from the Power during his 2-5 semi-final defeat.

Phil Taylor became the most successful player in World Championship history - winning his 6th title (4 in the PDC and 2 in the BDO), eclipsing Eric Bristow who won five titles during the 1980s. It was also Taylor's fourth title in a row.

Seeds

Prize money

The prize fund was £71,000.

Champion: £20,000

Runner-Up: £10,000

3rd Place: £1,000

Semi-Finalists (2): £4,000

Quarter-Finalists (4): £2,000

Group RU (8): £1,500

Results

1st Round - Group Stages

• Group 1
  • Phil Taylor (Eng,1) - Kevin Spiolek (Eng) 3 - 0
  • Dennis Smith (Eng) - Kevin Spiolek (Eng) 3 - 1
  • Phil Taylor (Eng,1) - Dennis Smith (Eng) 3 - 0

• Group 2
  • Bob Anderson (Eng,8) - Shayne Burgess (Eng) 0 - 3
  • Shayne Burgess (Eng) - Gerald Verrier (USA) 3 - 0
  • Bob Anderson (Eng,8) - Gerald Verrier (USA) 3 - 1

• Group 3
  • Jamie Harvey (Scot) - John Ferrell (Eng) 3 - 0
  • Rod Harrington (Eng,5) - John Ferrell (Eng) 3 - 0
  • Rod Harrington (Eng,5) - Jamie Harvey (Scot) 3 - 2

• Group 4
  • Peter Evison (Eng,4) - Paul Lim (USA) 3 - 0
  • Paul Lim (USA) - John Part (Can) 1 - 3
  • Peter Evison (Eng,4) - John Part (Can) 3 - 2

• Group 5
  • Dennis Priestley (Eng,2) - Eric Bristow (Eng) 3 - 0
  • Eric Bristow (Eng) - Steve Raw (Eng) 0 - 3
  • Dennis Priestley (Eng,2) - Steve Raw (Eng)

• Group 6
  • Peter Manley (Eng,7) - John Lowe (Eng) 3 - 0
  • John Lowe (Eng) - Gary Mawson (Can) 0 - 3
  • Peter Manley (Eng,7) - Gary Mawson (Can) 3 - 0

• Group 7
  • Keith Deller (Eng,6) - Graeme Stoddart (Eng) 3 - 1
  • Graeme Stoddart (Eng) - Mick Manning (Eng) 3 - 0
  • Keith Deller (Eng,6) - Mick Manning (Eng) 2 - 3

• Group 8
  • Alan Warriner (Eng,3) - Steve Brown (USA) 3 - 1
  • Steve Brown (USA) - Harry Robinson (Eng) 3 - 2
  • Alan Warriner (Eng,3) - Harry Robinson (Eng) 0 - 3

Knockout Stages

	Quarter Finals					Semi Finals					Final
	Group 1 Winner	Phil Taylor (1)96.28	4
	Group 2 winner	Shayne Burgess89.48	0
						1	Phil Taylor 100.63	5
						5	Rod Harrington94.78	2
	Group 3 winner	Rod Harrington (5)92.64	4
	Group 4 winner	Peter Evison (4)87.41	0
											1	Phil Taylor 103.98	6
											2	Dennis Priestley90.75	0
	Group 5 winner	Dennis Priestley (2)92.96	4
	Group 6 winner	Peter Manley (7)86.37	3
						2	Dennis Priestley93.62	5
						6	Keith Deller88.46	1
	Group 7 winner	Keith Deller (6)86.29	4
	Group 8 winner	Harry Robinson81.56	1

Third Place Match

Rod Harrington beat Keith Deller 4-1