Leighton Rees
Leighton Rees (born 17 January 1940 in Ynysybwl, Wales, † June 8, 2003 ibid ) was world champion in darts.
Leighton Rees attended the local Mill Street School in Pontypridd, where one of his teachers at Rees ' testimony noted that he was only good at reading the sports pages of the South Wales Echo (English: "good only for reading the sports pages of the South Wales echo " ). After leaving school at the age of 15, he initially found work in a motor spare parts inventory; this work, he went about 20 years after, until he finally got in 1976 as a professional darts player into the business.
Rees took place during this time for darts until he gradually gained attention in Wales 1972. Sid Waddell, now a commentator for Sky Sports, was at this time producer of the television program Indoor League Pub Games Show radio station Yorkshire Television; its researchers informed him that one in the south of the Welsh valleys - which quickly cradle talented dart players were - had a trio of outstanding dart players found. It was Rony Ridler of Newport, Alan Evans from Rhondda and especially Leighton Rees out Ynysybwl.
Waddell gave all three fast the chance to appear in the Welsh TV: You did not disappoint, Ridler and Evans both threw some high scores of 180 points from. But Leighton Rees stole them the show: With a lager and a cigar he told presenter Fred Trueman with his dry sense of humor soon known stories about how could he achieve and Alan Evans successes against the English.
Below Rees took part in the News of the World Championship, which was very similar to that time the World Cup tournaments; Although he went into the tournament as favorites, but his famous lazy- arm- throw was fixed to this day. He dropped out at an early stage of the tournament, much to the dismay favor of the numerous attending fans. Compensation which he made when he was part of the Welsh team that won the first-ever World Darts Federation World Cup in 1977.
His finest hour dawned in 1978, when he won the first Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in Nottingham. Set as number three, he was able to record against the Australians Barry Atkinson in round one a 6-0 success for themselves. In the next round he met his good friend Alan Evans, who set at this time, as the number 5, was his partner in the Welsh team. The game went down in history. Both players hit an average of over 90 points with three darts, which was unique at that time. Evans could go 180's early lead until Rees threw out the time the first ten dart finish the tournament by some. Rees was finally able to triumph by a 6-3 victory over Evans. The former production manager of the BBC, Nick Hunter, said that this meeting had to be all their expectations darts. He established it in the following years as a size on national television.
In the semifinal he played against the determined Americans Nick Virachkul. Rees finally fought his way to a 8-7, but put this whole new, combative qualities in the day so that he could compete in the final against the great John Lowe. He again reached an average of over 90 points, so that he could finally win a 11-7 victory - the only World Cup title of his career.
1977 Rees reached the finals again. Again he had to defeat Evans on his way there. This time, however, he lost 0-5 against John Lowe. Then he could only 1980 again reach a quarter final, 1981, he reached the last 16, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1990, he was parted from each even in the first round. Nevertheless, his performances are almost always made for sold out shows, and he remained one of the most popular dart player, because he has been instrumental with John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, Cliff Lazarenko and today Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld, that a dart has become relatively popular sport.
1980 married Leighton Rees, the Californian Debbie in Las Vegas while he was attending a tournament. Together they returned to Ynysybw. Rees died on 8 June 2003. Ynysybwl In a street was named after him, the Leighton Rees Close.