The 1995 Proton Cars World Darts Championships was the second world championship organised by the World Darts Council (now the Professional Darts Corporation) after an acrimonious split from the British Darts Organisation during 1992/93. Proton Cars took over the sponsorship from Skol, who had sponsored the inaugural event in 1994.
Phil Taylor emerged as champion, overcoming John Lowe 5-4 in an epic semi-final before beating Rod Harrington in the final to claim his first PDC title, his third World Championship in all.
Dennis Smith and Shayne Burgess made their debuts at the PDC tournament in 1995. The American contingent was reduced from 7 players to 6 and English player Kevin Burrows was the other player to miss out.
The tournament saw Jocky Wilson's last ever appearance in a World Championship - he had been unfortunate to be drawn in a tough group against John Lowe and Dennis Priestley in the group stages, losing both games. Wilson effectively retired from the sport after the 1995 World Matchplay in Blackpool later that year. Priestley, who was defending champion was also eliminated from this group - former champion Lowe beat him 3-0 and would go on to reach the semi-finals.
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or darts:
“I have defeated them all.... I was left with some money to battle with the world when quite young, and at the present time have much to feel proud of.... The Lord gave me talent, and I know I have done good with it.... For my brains have made me quite independent and without the help of any man.”
—Harriet A. Brown, U.S. inventor and educator. As quoted in Feminine Ingenuity, ch. 8, by Anne L. MacDonald (1992)
“Rejoice with the anchovy who darts in and out of salads.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)