Denis Ovens
 |
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| Denis Ovens | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Nickname | The Heat |
| Born | 1 July 1957 Enfield, England |
| Home town | Stevenage England |
| Darts information | |
| Darts | 20g LazerDarts |
| Laterality | Right-handed |
| Walk-on music | "The Heat Is On" (1985) by Glenn Frey |
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |
| BDO | 1986 - 2000 |
| PDC | 2000 - present |
| Current world ranking | 22 |
| BDO majors - best performances | |
| World Ch'ship | Round 1 2000 |
| World Masters | Quarter Finalist 1999 |
| World Darts Trophy | Round 1 2007 |
| PDC premier events - best performances | |
| World Ch'ship | Quarter Finalist 2005 |
| World Matchplay | Round 2 (6) 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 2005, 2009 |
| World Grand Prix | Round 2 (3) 2001, 2003, 2011 |
| Grand Slam | Last 16 2008 |
| Ch'ship League | Initial groups, Semi-finals 2008 |
| Desert Classic | Quarter Finalist 2002 |
| European Ch'ship | Round 2 2008 |
| UK Open | Semi Finalist (2) 2010, 2011 |
| US Open/WSoD | Last 32 2008 |
| Players Ch'ship Finals | Round 1 (3) 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Other tournament wins | |
| Tournament | Years |
| Scottish Open Claims Solution Classic |
1999 |
Denis Ovens (born 1 July 1957 in Enfield) is an English darts player currently ranked number 29 in the PDC Order of Merit. He is nicknamed The Heat and is now based in Stevenage.[1] 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 missing a double 12 for a perfect 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 2009, to Ronnie Baxter having defeated Steve Maish 3-0 in the first round.
Outside of darts Denis is a big Manchester United fan and has a season ticket, he goes to watch games when he is not playing darts.
[edit] 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 Manchester United fan and his favourite player is Wayne Rooney.
- Close friend of bodybuilding fanatic Adam Mead.
- 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.
[edit] References
- ^ "Denis Ovens (ENG)". ITV. http://www.itv.com/Sport/Darts/Playerprofiles/DenisOvens/default.html. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
