In 2001, darts was finally granted equality when a ladies World Professional Championships was introduced, and to be played at the sports most famous temple, the Lakeside. The first tournament featured 4 ladies, 2 directly invited and 2 qualifiers. Where as the men’s event has a variety of different and sometimes surprising champions, the ladies version could be deemed rather ‘dull’. Every year the same lady Trina Gulliver rules with an iron fist on the Lakeside stage, remaining unbeaten in the first 7 years. On 5 occasions Trina has beaten her greatest rival in the final, Francis Hoenselaar of the Netherlands. In 2008 however a new champion is crowned; Russia's Anastasia Dobromyslova beats Gulliver in the final and is the new champion. This example is followed by Hoenselaar in 2009 when she finally beats her rival Gulliver in the final and is crowned the 2009 Champion.
From 2010 onwards it is Gulliver who seems unbeatable making her total of titles at this moment a staggaring nine. Dobromyslova returns to Lakeside in 2012 after a short stint with the PDC and reclaims her title at her first attempt. Other Dutch players to have competed are Karin Krappen (7x), Mieke de Boer (2x), Carla Molema (2x) and Rilana Erades (2x). |