In 1974, the British Darts Organisation began with the World Masters. In the West Centre Hotel in London 18 players played for the title World Master and a total price fund of 800 pounds (400 for the winner and a hi-fi set worth £200)
There were no Dutch players in the tournament nut there was one Belgian participant. Andre de Clercq reached the quarterfinals. The first ever champion was Englishman Cliff Inglis who defeated the Scot Harry Heenan in the final.
Cliff Inglis did not win any additional major tournaments in his career, but he did het in the Guinness Book of Records by finishing a leg of 1001 in 19 darts in 1975 (scores: 160-180-140-180-121-180-40). In 2001, the player from Plymouth in the South West of England died.