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About World Championship Men 1997
Les Wallace
Les Wallace, who became the second Scotsman to become World Darts Champion after Jocky Wilson won it twice in 1982 and 1989, won the 1997 Embassy. Wallace defeated Wales' Marshall James 6-3 in the final. Wallace also became the first left-handed player to win either version of the World Darts Championship. It was also the second time in four years that two unseeded players had reached the Embassy final, and remains the most recent occasion that this has occurred.
The biggest upset in the tournament was the 3-1 win by American Roger Carter over number one seed Martin Adams in the first round, Carter went on to beat former champion John Part in round two before loosing to Marshall James in the quarters. After two round only two seeds remained in the competition and it looked like this year it could have been anyone’s year. It was to be Les Wallace’s. 1997 was also the first time Mervyn King played in a World Championship reaching the semi final on his debut.
But 1997 would be Les Wallace’s year. Victories over Bob Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Paul Williams and debutant Mervyn King brought the Scot in the final. The Welshman James Marshall proved an insurmountable hurdle for players such as Steve Beaton and Andy Fordham. The very slow style of James had certainly played a factor in these matches. Three of his four opponents towards the final were only brought to their knees in a deciding set, but Wallace was simply unbeatable.
Competitors Of World Championship Men 1997
Callers Of World Championship Men 1997
World Championship Men 1997
Frimley Green, ENG
Frimley Green, ENG
Andy Baetens
Reigning Champion
