By using this site you accept our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

×
Skip to main content
×
  • Home Page
  • Latest News
  • Pandemic Information
    • PCR Covid Tests in Milton Keynes
    • Travel Advice for PDC events during pandemic
    • DCMS Sports People Travelling during the Pandemic
    • UKAD and Covid-19 Vaccine
  • 2021 Calendar
  • Dart Connect
  • PDPA
    • About Us ‘The PDPA’
    • What The PDPA Do
    • Membership 2021
    • Official PDPA APP
    • PDPA Downloads
    • Payments Area
  • Documentation
    • Constitution
    • Constitution German Translation
    • Constitution Dutch Translation
    • Code of Conduct
    • Code of Conduct German Translation
    • Code of Conduct Dutch Translation
    • Memorandum of Association and Articles
  • Partners
    • Gamstop
    • PPF Professional Players Federation
    • LAPS Life After Sport
    • Official Accountant
    • Official Insurance
    • Official Solicitors
    • SSI Neurotracker
  • Travel, Hotels, Visa’s, Brexit
    • Travel Counsellors ‘Flights’
    • Travel Insurance ‘Certis’
    • Travel to PDC Events
    • Hotels for PDC Events
    • Brexit & UK Transition
    • Sportsmans UK Visa
  • PDC
    • ‘About’ The PDC
    • Sport Radar Online Entries
    • PDC Shirt Regulations
    • PDC Event Guests
    • PDC Bank Details Form
    • PDC Awards
  • OoM Rules / Translations
    • PDC OoM Rules 2020
    • German Translation
    • Dutch Translation
  • Tour Cards 2021
    • 2021 Tour Cards
    • 2021 UK Tour Card Induction
    • 2021 European Tour Card Induction
  • Qualifying Schools 2021
    • 2021 UK Q-School
    • 2021 UK Q-School Rankings
    • 2021 European Q-School
    • 2021 European Q-School Rankings
    • Q-School Combined Reserve List
  • DRA
    • DRA News/Information
    • DRA Rules
    • DRA Rules German Translation
    • DRA Rules Dutch Translation
    • DRA Fee
    • DRA Agents Licence
    • Betting Integrity Module
    • Social Media Guidelines/Advice
  • Anti Doping
    • Covid-19 Vaccines in Sport
    • Prohibited Substance List
    • Check Your Medications
    • Info on Beta Blockers
    • TUE Form & Information
  • Tours / Ranking Tables
    • PDC Order of Merit
    • PDC Pro-Tour OoM
    • PDC Players Championship OoM
    • PDC European Tour OoM
    • Grand Slam of Darts
    • UK Open Finals
    • PDC Development Tour ‘OoM’
    • PDC World Youth Championship
    • JDC Academies
    • PDPA Scholarship
  • Womens Series
    • Women’s Series and Grand Slam Qualifier
  • Challenge Tour
  • Invitational Events
    • Premier League
    • World Series
    • Champions League
    • The Masters
    • World Cup of Darts
  • Home Tour
  • World Tours
    • PDPA World Representatives
    • DPA ‘Australia’
    • DPNZ ‘New Zealand’
    • PDC Nordic & Baltic
    • PDC Asian Tour
    • CDC ‘North America’
    • EADC ‘Russia’
    • PDC China
    • PDC Europe
  • Race Tables
    • World Matchplay
    • World Grand Prix
    • World Championship
  • Health, Wealth, Wellbeing
    • Sporting Chance Clinic
    • Prosperity Wealth Management ‘Covid-19 Advice’
    • PDPA Health
    • Member Benefits & Fund
    • BUPA Health Scan
    • Gamble Aware Education
    • Mental Health Charter
    • Thrive Wellbeing APP
    • Sean Porter Fitness/Health
  • Statistics
    • History of Darts
    • World Number 1’s
    • 9 Dart Club
    • Averages
    • PDC and The BDO ‘The Split’
  • Links and Contacts

PDPA

Menu
  • Latest News
  • Barry Hearn OBE

Barry Hearn OBE

Professional Darts Corporation chairman Barry Hearn has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list, recognising his services to sport across over 40 years.

Friday 01 Jan 2021

Article by ‐ PDPA

Top sports promoter Hearn, 72, has played a key role in the PDC’s development since taking over as chairman in 2001, with top-level darts enjoying a global boom since.

 

During his time in the sport, Hearn has helped to boost prize money to record levels and introduce a worldwide circuit which is headlined by the William Hill World Darts Championship – currently taking place at London’s Alexandra Palace and featuring a 96-player field.

Hearn has also overseen the introduction of the PDC ProTour and Qualifying School/Tour Card system, enabling any darts player to achieve the dream of rising to the top of the sport, and the creation of the second-tier Challenge and Development Tours.

Global television coverage of PDC events includes live broadcasts in over 130 countries and audience figures to rival other mainstream sports, while the creation of the World Series of Darts circuit in 2013 has helped to support the work of affiliated organisations across the world in producing new stars.

A world record 20,210 fans watched the 2018 German Darts Masters in Gelsenkirchen, while the annual Premier League visits the biggest arenas in the UK and Ireland as well as venturing to the Netherlands and Germany, encapsulating darts’ status as one of the world’s most popular sports.

Barry Hearn (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

Originally a chartered accountant, Hearn had initially begun working in sport as the manager of Steve Davis in the late 1970s, before forming Matchroom Sport in 1982.

The management company worked with four World Snooker Champions during the 1990s and the company’s evolution also saw them move into promoting top class boxing events at venues such as White Hart Lane, Old Trafford and Wembley Stadium.

The Matchroom Sport portfolio of events also includes golf’s PGA EuroProTour and high-profile events in pool, tenpin bowling, fishing, netball, basketball and gymnastics.

A former owner of Leyton Orient football club who remains club president, Hearn also played a role in the rise in popularity of televised poker events.

Hearn also created the Matchroom Sport Charitable Foundation in 2016, which supports various charities, foundations and hospices across the UK.

Barry Hearn OBE said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been awarded an OBE. It has been a great joy to be involved in such a wide range of sports for over 40 years, and to be recognised for that work is an honour.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the greatest players ever to play in their sport from Steve Davis to Phil Taylor to Chris Eubank, and I’ve got so many wonderful memories.

“Alongside those elite players though, I’ve always tried to create pathways and opportunities for people to reach the very top of their chosen sport and change their life in the process.

“This award is also a recognition for the hard-working, creative and dedicated staff I work with at Matchroom Sport and in our chosen sports, who share my vision and help to bring our events to reality.

“A passion for sport has been a mantra for us all at Matchroom, and I’m so fortunate to have enjoyed such a wonderful time across the last four decades.”

Barry Hearn’s son Eddie is now the Group Managing Director of Matchroom Sport, as well as a director of the PDC, while daughter Katie is Director of Programming overseeing the company’s television production arm.

Further information about Matchroom Sport can be found at matchroom.com, while further information about the Matchroom Sport Charitable Foundation can be found at matchroomsport.foundation.

Click here

Click here

Click here

Click here

Click here

Official partners

Griffiths & Pegg
DRA
PDC
PPF
PDC Europe
Sporting Chance
PDPA

The PDPA,
Unit 34, Carlisle Enterprise Centre,
James Street, Carlisle,
Cumbria, CA2 5BB, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1228 594 273
Email: info@pdpa.co.uk

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Privacy Policy
  • |
  • Cookie Policy
  • |
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2013 - 2021 Professional Darts Players Association

Designed by Marka

Back to top^