Peter Evison: “The Fen Tiger” – the Matchplay champion who mauled Taylor in Blackpool
Peter Evison is one of those names that gets squeezed when people tell darts history too quickly. Taylor, Bristow, Lowe, Priestley — those names fill the room first. Then you look properly and realise Evison was standing there as well, claws out.
“The Fen Tiger” was not just some background rebel with a shirt and a memory. World Masters champion. World Matchplay champion. Multiple deep PDC World Championship runs. And in 1996, he gave Phil Taylor one of the nastiest Blackpool slaps of that whole era.
He was not the loudest man in the breakaway. Not the clean poster champion either. But Peter Evison had bite. And sometimes in darts, bite is exactly what the polished version of history forgets.
Contents
Want to jump straight into the Peter Evison story? Here are the main bits, no soft little cat basket needed.
- “The Fen Tiger”: not a footnote, a proper dangerous player
- 1989 World Masters: beating Bristow for a major title
- 1996 World Matchplay: Taylor mauled, Priestley finished
- The 8-1 Taylor beating that still deserves more noise
- PDC World Championship runs
- Peter Evison and the WDC/PDC rebellion
- Peter Evison darts and setup feel
- Peter Evison facts
- Peter Evison darts check
- Pattys Oche-Check
- FAQ
- More DartWorldHub legends
- Peter Evison sources
- Official darts bodies & useful sources
“The Fen Tiger”: not a footnote, a proper dangerous player
Peter Evison is exactly the sort of player who gets underrated when darts history is told by the biggest poster names only. He was not Taylor. He was not Bristow. He was not Priestley. Fair enough.
But that does not mean he was just padding around the edge of the story. Evison won the World Masters. He won the World Matchplay. He beat Taylor in Blackpool. He kept turning up deep in PDC Worlds. And he was there in the ugly breakaway years when nobody knew what the sport would become.
That is not a soft career. That is a proper old-school and early-PDC career with teeth in it.
DartWorldHub read: “The Fen Tiger” was not a nickname for decoration. Evison could hurt big names, and in 1996 he proved it with claws out.
1989 World Masters: beating Bristow for a major title
Before the PDC story really kicked off, Peter Evison had already done something serious: he won the 1989 World Masters.
And he did it against Eric Bristow. That matters. Bristow was not just some random final opponent with a big name on the programme. He was the old king, the mouth, the Crafty Cockney, one of the players everybody measured themselves against.
Evison beating Bristow 3-2 in a major final is the kind of result that should stop people treating him like a minor character. You do not win the World Masters against Bristow by accident. You need nerve, scoring and enough bite to stay in the room when the big name starts pressing.
Simple version: Evison had a major title before Blackpool 1996. The World Matchplay was not him suddenly becoming good for one random week.
1996 World Matchplay: Taylor mauled, Priestley finished
The 1996 World Matchplay is Peter Evison’s big PDC statement. Not just because he won it. Because of the names he hurt on the way.
He battered Phil Taylor 8-1 in the second round. That already sounds mad enough. Then he kept going and eventually beat Dennis Priestley 16-14 in the final. That is not a cute little run. That is walking through proper traffic with your elbows out.
Pattys read: Some players win a title by sneaking through the draw. Evison won Blackpool by kicking the door open and leaving a Taylor-shaped dent in it.
The 8-1 Taylor beating that still deserves more noise
Phil Taylor losing is one thing. Phil Taylor getting beaten 8-1 at Blackpool is another. Later on, Blackpool basically became one of his kingdoms. So when you look back and see Peter Evison giving him that sort of hiding, it stands out like a dart in the wall.
This was not a final-leg fluke where Taylor missed eight doubles and the other bloke somehow crawled over the line. Evison took him apart. And according to matchplay retrospectives, he averaged over 100 while doing it.
That matters because Taylor’s later dominance can make earlier opponents look smaller than they were. But in 1996, Evison did not look small. He looked like a bloke Taylor really did not want to see again that week.
Short version: Evison did not just beat Taylor in Blackpool. He made the scoreline look rude.
PDC World Championship runs: always hanging around the dangerous end
Peter Evison never became PDC World Champion. That is the clean line. But again, the clean line misses half the texture.
He was around the sharp end of the early PDC Worlds more than once. Semi-final / third-place-era runs in the 1990s, quarter-finals, awkward matches, proper names in the draw. He was not just turning up for the walk-on and a quick handshake.
In those early PDC years, the whole structure was still finding itself. Smaller fields, strange formats, big-name pressure, split politics still hanging in the air. Evison belonged in that world because he could actually hurt people there.
Useful way to see him: Evison was not the main face of the early PDC, but he was one of the players who made that early field feel dangerous.
Peter Evison and the WDC/PDC rebellion
Peter Evison was part of the breakaway story. Not just as a name floating around later, but as one of the WDC/PDC founding-era players when the sport was splitting apart.
And that matters because the breakaway was not a neat business plan with a nice logo and everybody clapping politely. It was pressure, bans, money trouble, TV uncertainty and players wondering whether they had just saved their careers or set fire to them.
Evison was not the loudest rebel. Bristow had the mouth. Lowe had the gentleman weight. Priestley had the first WDC world title. Taylor became the monster. But players like Evison gave the group depth. Real players, real results, real danger in the draw.
Pattys read: every rebellion needs more than headline names. Evison was one of those players who made the new side look like an actual darts field, not just a handful of big egos.
Peter Evison darts: 22g B&W darts and no fake tiger-claw nonsense
With Peter Evison, the clean player-data reference is simple: 22g B&W darts. That is the number to work from. Not 28g because “tiger” sounds heavy. Not some fantasy claw-grip barrel invented because it looks good in a product box. 22g B&W.
That makes sense for the player too. Evison was not a delicate little feather-thrower, but he was not a blunt-force hammer either. A 22g steel tip setup sits in that proper usable middle: enough weight to feel stable, light enough to still move with rhythm.
The tricky bit is availability. B&W player darts are old-school gear now. You may see rare listings, old stock, Sonny’s-style “from the old box” products, or collector bits. But I would not pretend there is a clean, current Amazon UK route for exact Peter Evison darts.
22g B&W darts are the clean Peter Evison player-data reference.
Classic steel tip feel, controlled weight, not a silly grip monster.
B&W player darts can appear in different weights and conditions. The name alone is not enough.
Sonny’s lists B&W Peter Evison 90% in 23g, 25g and 26g options, so that is not the exact 22g player-data match.
- What we know: Peter Evison is listed with 22g B&W darts.
- What we do not fake: a clean Amazon UK product link for exact 22g Peter Evison darts.
- Safe practical route: proper 22g steel tip darts if you want the rough weight feel.
- Big warning: old B&W player darts can be rare, used, mislabelled or different weights.
Peter Evison facts
| Topic | Details | DartWorldHub read |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Kenneth Evison | The man behind “The Fen Tiger”. |
| Nickname | “The Fen Tiger” | Use this. Not “Fenman”. Tiger has the bite. |
| Born | 27 May 1964 | Part of the generation that crossed from old darts into the split-era mess. |
| Birthplace | Chiswick, London | London-born, but the nickname gave him that Fenland bite. |
| Hometown link | West Drayton, Middlesex | A proper English darts name from the old-to-new transition years. |
| Throwing hand | Right-handed | No gimmick, just right-handed darts with danger in the timing. |
| Known darts | 22g B&W darts | The clean reference. Do not invent a fake modern signature product. |
| Walk-on music | “Eye of the Tiger” | Of course. Sometimes darts writes the joke for you. |
| World Masters | Winner 1989 | Beat Eric Bristow. That is proper major-title weight. |
| World Matchplay | Winner 1996 | Beat Phil Taylor 8-1 on the way and Dennis Priestley in the final. |
| PDC split | WDC/PDC founding-era player | One of the names that gave the early professional field depth. |
Peter Evison darts check
I would not put an Amazon UK button here. I did not find a clean Peter Evison B&W steel tip listing on Amazon UK that I would trust for this page.
The clean player-data reference is 22g B&W darts. The only proper old-stock product page I found is a Sonny’s Darts listing for B&W Peter Evison 90%, but the listed options there are 23g, 25g and 26g. So that is a useful specialist-shop check, not a perfect exact 22g match.
Pattys straight call: DartWorldHub does not earn anything from these green shop links. They are here as a service, so visitors do not get some random wrong barrel, soft tip version or marketplace rubbish shoved in front of their eyes just because somebody wanted an Amazon click. The Sonny’s link is a Peter Evison B&W product check, but not a guaranteed exact 22g match.
Check B&W Peter Evison darts at Sonny’s Darts Browse 22g steel tip darts at Red Dragon
Before buying anything, check steel tip first, then weight, then barrel shape. If you want exact Peter Evison darts, be careful with old B&W listings. If you only want the rough feel, a clean 22g steel tip setup is the safer practical route.
Pattys Oche-Check: The Fen Tiger had sharper claws than people remember
Peter Evison is not one of those names that gets blasted everywhere like Taylor or Bristow. But maybe that is exactly why the page matters. If you only tell darts history through the same five names, you miss the players who made the whole thing properly dangerous.
Evison won the World Masters. He won the World Matchplay. He took Taylor apart 8-1 in Blackpool and then beat Dennis Priestley in the final. That is not “nice little career” stuff. That is a tiger leaving claw marks on the table.
And he was there in the WDC/PDC split, when darts was not safe, rich or polished. He was one of the players who helped make the early professional side more than just a few famous faces shouting into the wind.
My take: Peter Evison was not the biggest legend in darts, but he was a real threat. And when a player has a World Masters, a World Matchplay and an 8-1 win over Taylor on the CV, you do not treat him like a side note.
FAQ: Peter Evison
What was Peter Evison’s nickname?
Peter Evison’s nickname was “The Fen Tiger”. That is the name I would use, not “The Fenman”.
Did Peter Evison win the World Matchplay?
Yes. Peter Evison won the 1996 World Matchplay, beating Dennis Priestley 16-14 in the final.
Did Peter Evison beat Phil Taylor?
Yes. Peter Evison beat Phil Taylor 8-1 at the 1996 World Matchplay. It is one of the results that deserves more noise when people talk about Taylor’s Blackpool history.
Did Peter Evison win the World Masters?
Yes. He won the 1989 World Masters, beating Eric Bristow in the final.
Was Peter Evison part of the PDC breakaway?
Yes. Peter Evison was part of the WDC/PDC founding-era group, one of the names involved when darts split from the old BDO structure.
What darts did Peter Evison use?
Player data links Peter Evison with 22g B&W darts. I would not invent a modern exact product unless a clean source appears.
Can you buy Peter Evison darts today?
Not easily. There are old-stock and specialist references, including B&W Peter Evison 90% listings, but they may not match the exact 22g player-data reference. Check weight, tip type and availability carefully.
What was Peter Evison’s walk-on music?
He is linked with “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. With a nickname like “The Fen Tiger”, that one writes itself.
More DartWorldHub legends
If you want to place Peter Evison properly, these are the next names. Taylor pain, Priestley finals, Bristow history and the whole old darts web around him.
- Blackpool 1996 Phil Taylor: “The Power” → The man Evison beat 8-1 at the 1996 World Matchplay before going on to win the title.
- World Matchplay final Dennis Priestley: “The Menace” → The man Evison beat 16-14 in the 1996 World Matchplay final.
- World Masters 1989 Eric Bristow: “The Crafty Cockney” → The old king Evison beat in the 1989 World Masters final.
- Early PDC rival Rod Harrington: “The Prince of Style” → Another major early-PDC name from the same rough professional shift.
- Old darts connection Mike Gregory: “The Quiet Man of Darts” → The man who beat Evison in the 1987 News of the World final.
- The split story The History of the PDC → The breakaway, the bans, the pressure and why players like Evison mattered in the early professional field.
- Gear background Steeldart Barrels Guide → If you want a controlled 22g-style steel tip setup without chasing rare old B&W player darts.
- Back to the hub Stars & Legends → More old-school names, modern stars and the stories behind the shirts.
Peter Evison sources
These links are useful for Peter Evison’s player data, World Matchplay title, WDC/PDC breakaway role and old B&W darts checks.
- Player data Mastercaller: Peter Evison → Player profile with nickname, used darts, laterality, titles and career data.
- Career profile Darts Database: Peter Evison → Career statistics, player profile, darts used and tournament record.
- Split background PDPA: History / Split → Background on the BDO/WDC split and the original breakaway players, including Peter Evison.
- World Matchplay history Darts Corner: 30 Years of the World Matchplay – Part Three → World Matchplay background covering Evison’s 8-1 win over Phil Taylor in Blackpool.
- World Matchplay final Darts Corner: 30 Years of the World Matchplay – Part Two → Background on the 1996 final between Peter Evison and Dennis Priestley.
- Forgotten thrower Darts Planet: Peter Evison → Feature article looking back at Evison’s career and his biggest triumphs.
- Product source Sonny’s Darts: B&W Peter Evison 90% → Specialist product page for B&W Peter Evison darts. Check current stock, weight and exact details before buying.
- 22g setup alternative Red Dragon: 22g Steel Tip Darts → Not Peter Evison signature darts, but a useful 22g steel tip collection if you want to copy the rough weight range.
Official darts bodies & useful sources
If you want to look past the gear and into the official side of darts, these are useful sources for pro events, English-speaking darts structures, rankings, tournaments and the wider international scene.
- Professional darts Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) → The main professional stage for darts: events, schedules, scores, tickets, players and PDC tour news.
- World darts World Darts Federation (WDF) → The international darts federation, with world events, member nations, rankings, players and competitions.
- England England Darts → The official governing body for darts in England, covering national teams, world-ranked events and the English darts structure.
- Scotland Scottish Darts Association → Scottish darts news, competitions, national teams and tournament information from the Scottish darts scene.
- Wales Welsh Darts Organisation → The governing body of darts in Wales, covering Welsh national teams, competitions and world-ranking events.
- Ireland Irish National Darts Organisation (INDO) → Official Irish darts information, events and news from the Irish National Darts Organisation.
- United States American Darts Organization (ADO) → A useful source for US darts, rankings, approved tournaments, national events and American darts news.
- North America Championship Darts Corporation (CDC) → North America’s professional steel-tip darts tour and one of the key routes towards bigger PDC-stage opportunities.