The 96 players descending on Alexandra Palace for the Paddy Power World Darts Championship are desperate to get their hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy.
As the ultimate prize in darts, it is hardly surprising that it has been named after one of the most iconic figures in the history of the sport.
Commentator Sid Waddell was known as ‘the voice of darts’ and his wonderful way with words helped take the game to new heights and become must-match television.
You can see which players are the favourites to get their hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy by checking out our Paddy Power World Darts Championship odds on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app.
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Who was Sid Waddell?
Sid Waddell was born in Northumberland, England in 1940. He graduated with an upper second degree in Modern History from Cambridge University, where his love affair with darts began after suffering an injury while playing rugby.
Waddell went on to produce local news programmes and devise historical children’s show The Flaxton Boys before creating The Indoor League, which saw players compete in different pub games. It began life on Yorkshire Television before transferring to ITV.
He moved to the BBC in 1976 and was one of the commentators on the first World Professional Darts Championship two years later, becoming a staple fixture on the Beeb before switching to Sky Sports in 1994.
Waddell was the voice of the broadcaster’s coverage for years and continued in the commentary box after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in September 2011 until sadly passing away the following year.
Paddy Power World Darts trophy
Following Waddell’s death, the PDC commissioned a new trophy for the World Darts Championship and named it in his honour.
Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, the greatest player in the history of the sport, was the first to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy after beating Michael van Gerwen in the 2013 final.
It was fitting that Taylor became the inaugural winner of the new silverware as Waddell commentated on the majority of his triumphs on the oche.
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Sid Waddell quotes
As well as becoming ‘the voice of darts’, Waddell is fondly remembered for his turn of phrase and hilarious one-liners.
“William Tell could take an apple off your head, Taylor could take out a processed pea.”
“He’s too fast for his own good. It’s like an octopus with toothache; you start thinking about your mouth instead of your feet. Too many moving parts.”
“It’s like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline.”
“When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer… Bristow’s only 27!”
“If we’d had Phil Taylor at Hastings against the Normans, they’d have gone home.”
“That was delicate like a surgeon near a delicate area.”
“The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in with a portion of chips, you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them.”
“This game of darts is twisting like a rattlesnake with a hernia!”
“The gloves are off now. I hate clichés, but I’ve got to use them sometimes…”
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