Roland Scholten

Roland Scholten (born 11 January 1965) is a Dutch former professional darts player who played in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and British Darts Organisation (BDO). Nicknamed The Tripod and The Flying Dutchman, Scholten turned full-time professional in 2001 having previously worked as a publican. Despite his Dutch nationality, Scholten speaks with a strong English accent having lived in Peterborough for several years. His considerable height and throwing technique means his darts hit the board at a considerably narrow angle.

Roland Scholten
Personal information
NicknameThe Tripod
The Flying Dutchman
Born (1965-01-11) 11 January 1965
The Hague, Netherlands
Home townThe Hague, Netherlands
Darts information
Playing darts since1983
Darts21 Gram Datadart Roland Scholten
LateralityRight-handed
Walk-on music"Hey Ya!" by Outkast
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO1992–1999
PDC1999–2013
BDO majors – best performances
World Ch'shipSemi Final: 1998
World MastersSemi Final: 1996
World Darts TrophyLast 16: 2007
Int. Darts LeagueSemi Final: 2006
Finder MastersLast 16 Group: 2002
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'shipQuarter Final: 2001, 2003
World MatchplaySemi Final: 2006
World Grand PrixRunner Up: 2001
Grand SlamLast 16: 2007
Premier LeagueRunner Up: 2006
Ch'ship LeagueInitial groups, 8th, 2008
Desert ClassicSemi Final: 2002, 2008
European Ch'shipFirst Round: 2008
UK OpenWinner (1) 2004
US Open/WSoDQuarter Final: 2007
Other tournament wins
British Open 1996
Eastbourne Pro 2003, 2004
Ireland Open Autumn Classic 2001
North Holland Open 1996
Open Holland 2002
PDC Eastbourne Open 2004
PDC World Pairs 1997
PDC World West European Qualifying 2010
Spring Cup 1998
Happy vogelpikkers cup 1994
Sunparks Masters 2003
Swedish Open 1996
Thialf Darts Trophy 2007
Other achievements
9-dart finish Golden Harvest North American Cup 2003

BDO career

Scholten was runner-up in the 1992 Austrian Open, losing to Rod Harrington. He then won the 1993 WDF World Cup, beating Denmark's Troels Rusel in the final. Scholten made his BDO World Championship debut in 1994 where he beat Sean Palfrey in the first round and became the only seed to progress to the second round where he lost to Ronnie Sharp. He followed up with a quarter final showing in the 1994 Winmau World Masters, beating Stefan Eeckelaert and Derek Hampton before losing to Steve Beaton. He then suffered a first round exit in the 1995 World Championship, losing to Colin Monk and reached the second round of the 1995 World Masters, again beating Palfrey in the first round but lost to fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.

In the 1996 World Championship, Scholten beat Mark Salmon 3–0 in the first round but lost in the second round to then-defending champion Richie Burnett. Scholten won three Open tournaments in 1996, winning the North Holland Open, the Swedish Open and the prestigious British Open. He then reached the semi finals on the 1996 World Masters, losing to the eventual winner Monk. Scholten then reached the quarter finals of the 1997 World Championship, beating former finalist Mike Gregory and Bobby George before losing to Mervyn King. He reached the final of the England Open and the Swedish Open and his British Open defence ended in the quarter finals. Scholten, with partner van Barneveld won the PDC World Pairs Championship at Bognor Regis in 1997, beating the pairing of Burnett and Harrington in the final.

In the 1998 World Championship, Scholten reached the semi finals, beating fellow Dutchman Co Stompé, American Roger Carter and then Sean Palfrey once more before losing to Richie Burnett. In the 1999 World Championship, Scholten lost in the quarter final stage to Ronnie Baxter.

PDC career

Shortly after the 1999 Embassy World Championship, Scholten left the BDO and switched to the PDC. He reached the final of the 2000 Antwerp Open, losing to Jamie Harvey. He made his PDC major debut in the 2000 World Matchplay, losing in the first round to Rod Harrington. He also played in the 2000 World Grand Prix, also losing in the first round to Richie Burnett.

He made his PDC World Championship debut in 2001, reaching the quarter finals, progressing with 3–0 wins over Shayne Burgess and Cliff Lazarenko before losing to Harrington 4–2. He then reached the second round of the 2001 World Matchplay and then reached his first major final in the 2001 World Grand Prix, beating Rod Harrington, Mick Manning, John Part and John Lowe before losing to Alan Warriner.

Scholten reached the second round of the 2002 World Championship, losing to Dave Askew. He then won his first PDC event in the 2002 Open Holland and reached the semi finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, losing to Baxter. In the 2002 World Matchplay he lost again in the second round, losing to Colin Lloyd. He then reached the quarter finals of the World Grand Prix, losing 4–0 to Andy Jenkins. A quarter final place in the 2003 World Championship followed as well as a semi final place in the 2003 UK Open, a quarter final showing in the 2003 Desert Classic and reaching the semi finals of the World Grand Prix. He also won the 2003 Eastbourne Pro and the Primus Masters but suffered a first round exit in the World Matchplay.

Scholten lost in the third round of the 2004 World Championship, losing his only match to Lionel Sams. After retaining his Eastbourne Open title, Scholten won his first major title the Budweiser UK Open in June. He beat Mark Dudbridge, Henry O'Neill, Denis Ovens, Alan Warriner and Steve Beaton, before beating John Part in the final.

Scholten reached the semi finals of the 2005 Premier League, and went into the match as a big underdog against Phil Taylor. However, Scholten upset the form book for most of the best-of-25 legs match, as he led 4–1, 5–2, 6–3, 7–4 and 11–7, only for Taylor to produce a remarkable comeback by winning 6 consecutive legs to win the match 13–11.

In the 2006 Premier League, Scholten again reached the semi finals, and again went into the match as a big underdog, this time against Raymond van Barneveld. Scholten again upset the form book, and this time completed the job, as he defeated van Barneveld 11–3, to advance into the final. However, Scholten was unable to repeat the performance in the final, as Phil Taylor defeated him, 16–6.

Scholten reached the semi-finals of the 2006 World Matchplay, losing in a tie-break to James Wade, having had one dart at double top to win the match.

Scholten, the number 4 seed, defeated Ron Miller and Alex Roy in the 2007 PDC World Darts Championship, but lost in the third round to Colin Osborne 4–2.

Scholten finished in last place in the 2007 Premier League, despite twice taking Phil Taylor to a 7–7 draw. At the 2007 World Matchplay, Scholten and Taylor met in the quarter finals, with Taylor winning by a crushing 16–1 scoreline.

Scholten suffered with neck and shoulder problems from October 2008 which severely affected his performances. He suffered an early exit in the Championship of Darts and the European Championship, averaging a very poor 51.52 in losing to Mensur Suljović at the 2008 European Championship. He then lost in the first round of the 2009 PDC World Championship, losing to Spain's Carlos Rodriguez which dropped him outside the world's top 16. In 2009, he had his shoulder operated on and took a break from darts.[1] Scholten lost in the first round of the 2010 PDC World Championship 3–2 against Steve Hine.

He worked for a time as an expert for the German TV Station, Sport1, starting with the 2010 World Matchplay.[2]

Scholten beat Jamie Caven 3–1 in the first round of the 2012 World Championship, but was whitewashed in the next round 0–4 by Wayne Jones.[3] His best result in the rest of 2012 came in February at the second UK Open Qualifier where he beat the likes of Ted Hankey and Brendan Dolan to reach the quarter-finals, but he was beaten 1–6 by Dave Chisnall.[4][5] In the UK Open, he ran 15 times world champion Phil Taylor very close in the last 64, but ultimately lost 7–9.[6] Scholten lost in the quarter-finals of the 2013 World Championship Qualifier to Terry Temple and was ranked world number 47 after the tournament had been completed.[7][8]

Scholten was beaten 5–4 by Conan Whitehead in the first round of the 2013 UK Open.[9] He had one of his most disappointing years in darts as he played the full PDC schedule but did not advance past the last 32 in any event.[10]

World Championship results

BDO

PDC

Career finals

PDC major finals: 3 (1 title, 2 runners-up)
Legend
World Grand Prix (0–1)
Premier League (0–1)
UK Open (1–0)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Runner-up 1. 2001 World Grand Prix Alan Warriner 2–8 (s)
Winner 1. 2004 UK Open (1) John Part 11–6 (l)
Runner-up 2. 2006 Premier League Phil Taylor 6–16 (l)

WDF major finals: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Legend
World Cup (1–0)
Europe Cup (0–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Winner 1. 1993 World Cup Singles Troels Rusel 4–2 (s)
Runner-up 1. 1996 Europe Cup Singles Martin Adams 3–4 (s)

PDC team finals: 1 (1 title)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponents in the final Score[N 1]
Winner 1. 1997 World Pairs
with Raymond van Barneveld		 Richie Burnett
Rod Harrington		 18–15 (l)
  1. (l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.

Performance timeline

BDO

Tournament1986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007
BDO World Championship DNQ 2R 1R 2R QF SF QF No longer a BDO Member
Winmau World Masters 1R DNQ 2R QF 4R SF 2R 2R No longer a BDO Member
European Masters Not held 2R Not held
Zuiderduin Masters Not held DNP RR DNP NH DNP
World Darts Trophy Not held DNP 2R
International Darts League Not held DNP SF RR

PDC

Tournament20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013
PDC World Championship DNQ QF 2R QF 3R 4R 3R 3R 3R 1R 1R 1R 2R DNQ
World Matchplay 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R 2R SF QF 1R DNQ
World Grand Prix 1R F QF SF 2R 1R QF 2R 1R DNQ
Las Vegas Desert Classic Not held SF QF 1R QF 2R QF SF DNQ Not held
UK Open Not held SF W SF 5R 4R 3R 4R 4R 3R 3R 1R
Premier League Darts Not held SF F 8th DNP
Grand Slam of Darts Not held 2R DNQ
European Championship Not held 1R DNQ
Masters of Darts Not held SF NH 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

High averages
See also: High dart average
Roland Scholten televised high averages
Average Date Opponent Tournament Stage Score
110.21 18 November 2007 Michael van Gerwen 2007 Grand Slam of Darts Group stage 5–1 (l)

References
  1. "Shoulder Op For Scholten". PDC. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  2. "2010 European Darts Championship preview" (in German). suite101.de. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  3. "World Championship - Night Eight". PDC. December 22, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  4. "2012 UK Open Qualifier Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  5. "Roland Scholten 2012". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  6. "2012 UK Open Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  7. "2013 PDC World Championship Qualifiers Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  8. "Order of Merit on 1 January 2013". PDC. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  9. "Speedy Services UK Open - Thursday". PDC. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  10. "Roland Scholten 2013". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.