Mark Dudbridge

Mark "Flash" Dudbridge (born 11 January 1973) is an English professional darts player. He appeared in the 2005 Premier League Darts after reaching the final of the 2005 PDC World Darts Championship. He also is a former World Master and has reached the final of the World Matchplay.

Mark Dudbridge
Personal information
NicknameFlash
Born (1973-01-11) 11 January 1973
Bristol, England
Home townBristol, England
Darts information
Playing darts since1986
Darts21g Harrows Flash Series
LateralityRight-handed
Walk-on music"Flash" by Queen
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO2002
PDC2002–
Current world rankingNR (3 January 2021)[1]
BDO majors – best performances
World MastersWinner (1) 2002
Int. Darts LeagueLast 16 Group: 2007
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'shipRunner Up: 2005
World MatchplayRunner Up: 2004
World Grand PrixQuarter Final: 2005, 2007
Premier League5th: 2005
Ch'ship LeagueWinners group, 6th: 2008
Desert ClassicLast 16: 2007
UK OpenLast 16: 2007, 2008
US Open/WSoDQuarter Final: 2007
Players Ch'ship FinalsLast 32: 2009, 2010, 2011
Other tournament wins
Ireland Open Autumn Classic 2003
Southern Counties Open 2014
PDC Challenge Tour 2017 (x2)

Players Championships

Players Championship (SCO) 2004

UK Open Regionals

Regional Final (NWE) 2003
Regional Final (SWE) 2006

Career

Dudbridge started playing in his very early teens, citing Dennis Priestley as one of his heroes.[2] Dudbridge made a name for himself in the British Darts Organisation by winning the Winmau World Masters in 2002, defeating Tony West in the final[3] – in his first televised tournament. He never competed in the BDO version of the World Championship and switched instead to compete in the Professional Darts Corporation.

In 2003, he won a regional final of the UK Open and also the Ireland Open Classic and knocked out John Part, who was defending champion at the time, in his first appearance at the World Championship in 2004. His success continued in Blackpool at the World Matchplay in 2004 going on to reach the final before losing to Phil Taylor. His 2005 PDC World Championship campaign started off by beating two former World Champions back to back – Richie Burnett and then John Part. He then beat Denis Ovens and Wayne Mardle before meeting Taylor again in the final – possibly Dudbridge's best achievement to date. This achievement saw him qualify for the inaugural Premier League and he also took the decision to become a full-time professional player.

Since 2005, Dudbridge's ranking has slipped and he has not made the major impact on the game that his earlier results might have suggested. He started 2007 ranked 20 in the world rankings and his best result of that year was reaching the quarter finals of the new US Open in May.

Dudbridge qualified for the 2013 UK Open, his first televised appearance since the 2012 PDC World Championship. He also qualified for the 2014 World Championship.[4] In 2017, he won two Challenge Tour events. He earned a Pro Tour Card for 2018 by finishing second in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

Outside darts

Dudbridge is one of the few players chosen to appear in the PDC World Championship Darts computer game.[5]

Dudbridge owns Cafe501[6] and Solar Darts. He currently lives in Bradley Stoke and is married with three children. He is a supporter of Bristol City and several players including Scott Murray and Louis Carey have been spotted watching his matches live.

World Championship results

PDC

Career finals

BDO major finals: 1 (1 title)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1. 2002 Winmau World Masters Tony West 7–4 (s) [7]

PDC premier event finals: 2 (2 runners-up)
Legend
World Matchplay (0–1)
World Championship (0–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 2004 World Matchplay Phil Taylor 8–18 (l)
Runner-up 2. 2005 World Darts Championship Phil Taylor 4–7 (s)

Performance timeline
Tournament200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
PDC World Championship DNQ QF F 3R 2R 3R 3R 3R 2R 1R DNQ 1R DNQ
World Matchplay DNQ 2R F 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R DNQ
World Grand Prix DNQ 1R 1R QF 1R QF 1R 2R 1R DNQ
Las Vegas Desert Classic DNQ 1R 1R 1R 2R DNQ Not held
UK Open NH 3R 3R 4R 3R 6R 5R 4R 3R 4R DNQ 1R DNQ 1R 2R DNQ
Premier League Darts Not held 5th DNP
European Championship Not held DNQ 1R DNQ
Championship League Darts Not held RR RR RR RR DNQ Not held
Players Championship Finals Not held 1R 1R 1R DNQ
Winmau World Masters W No longer a BDO Member
International Darts League NH DNP RR Not held
Performance Table Legend
DNP Did not play at the event DNQ Did not qualify for the event NYF Not yet founded #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
QF lost in the quarter-finals SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament

References
  1. "PDC Order of Merit". PDC.tv. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  2. "Mark Dudbridge". Darts Exhibitions. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. "World Masters Winners". Darts Database. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  4. "William Hill World Championship Field". Professional Darts Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. "PDC World Championship Darts - Out Now!". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  6. "About Us". Cafe 501. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  7. "2002 World Masters Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
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