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| Denis Ovens | ||
|---|---|---|
| Personal information | ||
| Nickname | The Heat | |
| Date of birth | July 1, 1957 | |
| Place of birth | Enfield, England | |
| Home town | Stevenage, England | |
| Darts information | ||
| Playing darts since | ||
| Darts | 20g LazerDarts | |
| Laterality | right-handed | |
| Walk-on music | The Heat Is On (1985) by Glenn Frey | |
| Organisation (see split in darts) | ||
| BDO | 1986 to 2000 | |
| PDC | since 2000 | |
| Current World Ranking | 18 | |
| BDO Majors - Best Performances | ||
| World Ch'ship | Last 32, 2000 | |
| World Masters | Quarter-finals 1999 | |
| World Darts Trophy | Last 32, 2007 | |
| PDC Premier Events - Best Performances | ||
| World Ch'ship | Quarter-finals 2005 | |
| World Matchplay | Second round 2000, 2002-2005 | |
| World Grand Prix | Second round 2001, 2003 | |
| Grand Slam | Second round 2008 | |
| Ch'ship League | Initial groups, Semi-finals 2008 | |
| Desert Classic | Quarter-finals 2002 | |
| European Ch'ship | Second round 2008 | |
| UK Open | Last 16, 2004, 2006 | |
| US Open/WSoD | Last 32, 2008 | |
| Other Tournament Wins | ||
| Tournament | Years | |
| Scottish Open Claims Solution Classic |
1999 2001 |
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Denis Ovens (born July 1, 1957 in Enfield) is an English darts player currently ranked number 18 in the PDC Order of Merit. He is nicknamed The Heat and is now based in Stevenage Ovens is widely regarded as one of the most consistent players in the circuit, though he has as yet failed to convert his form from the circuit to the big stages on television. His constant second round exits in numerous televised tournaments has led him to be called by commentators as 'The Nearly Man'.
His one good run came in the 2005 PDC World Darts Championship, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to former World Masters champion Mark Dudbridge. He has since suffered four successive second round exits in the World Championship - against Steve Alker in 2006, against Alan Tabern in 2007 (in a thriller that went to a sudden death deciding leg, with Ovens narrowly missed a double 12 for a nine dart finish and a £15,000 bonus), in 2008 against Dutchman Jan van der Rassel, after defeating Colin Monk in the first round and in the 2009, to Ronnie Baxter having defeated Steve Maish 3-0 in the first round.
Trivia
- Ovens is known for his trademark unshaven looks. Ovens stated on ESPN's World Series of Darts that he kept shaving before a darts match and always lost, so he thought "Ok, don't shave".
- Ovens is well known to darts fans as "Captain Hobo", in reference to his unkempt appearance.
- Ovens is a devoted Chelsea fan and often wears a blue shirt in reference to this, much like fellow pro Kevin Painter who's a lifelong Ipswich Town fan.
- Ovens was Michael Caine's body double in a dart scene in the film Bullseye which also featured Roger Moore (1990)
- Ovens' exploits within the PDC opens structure is well-known. Ovens holds the record for "most open wins" on the PDC circuit, with a total of 37 successes. He also holds the record for consecutive opens wins, a record which he set in 2005 after he recorded 7 consecutive open titles.
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External links
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