Kevin Spiolek (born May 5, 1962 in Cambridge) is an English darts player who played during the 1980s and 1990s. He made a brief return to form in 2006 when qualifying to play in the PDC World Darts Championship.
His best form came in the late 1980s where he reached the semi finals of the 1987 Winmau World Masters losing to Bob Anderson. In 1988, Spiolek reached the final of the prestigious News of the World Darts Championship, losing to Mike Gregory.
Spiolek is one of only 7 players to have beaten Phil Taylor at the World Championship - having knocked him out in the second round at Lakeside in the 1993 World Championship - the last time that there was a unified World Championship. Spiolek was eliminated in the next round - to date, two quarter-finals are the best results he has achieved in World Championships.
Spiolek was one of the 16 players in 1992-1993 who created their own organisation (the World Darts Council which later became the Professional Darts Corporation). In 1994 he reached the final of the Greene King Masters - losing to Taylor. Spiolek played in the first seven PDC World Championships after the split in the game with his best performance being another quarter-final in 1995.
He reached the final of the North American Cup in 1996 and the quarter finals of the World Matchplay in 1997 but then gradually faded from the scene. His performance in qualifying for the 2006 PDC World Championship (where he lost in the first round to Peter Manley) kept him in the top 100 of the PDC world rankings until January 2008.
He had continued to play in the domestic Pro Tour events on the PDC circuit during 2005 and 2006 - playing in more than 10 events on the PDC Pro Tour but he has remained inactive on the circuit since the Players Championship in Gibraltar in January 2007. Due to this two-year inactivity, he is now unranked.
He now works as an Area Sales Rep for a stainless steel stockholder.
On 9 January 2013, Spiolek appeared at Blackpool Magistrates' Court, on charges of indecently assaulting a then 14 year old girl in Blackpool during the 1999 World Matchplay darts tournament. His case was referred by the district judge to Preston Crown Court for 31 January 2013. At the High Court on the 31 January, Spiolek's lawyer indicated that he would plead not guilty, and he will next appear in court on 30 April 2013, with a provisional four-day trial set for June 2013. Spiolek was granted bail.
Famous quotes containing the word kevin:
“Well, on the official record you’re my son. But on this post you’re just another trooper. You heard me tell the recruits what I need from them. Twice that I will expect from you.... You’ve chosen my way of life. I hope you have the guts enough to endure it. But put outa your mind any romantic ideas that it’s a way to glory. It’s a life of suffering and of hardship and uncompromising devotion to your oath and your duty.”
—James Kevin McGuinness, and John Ford. Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne)