Nicholson reveals the greatest comeback in darts history

PAUL NICHOLSON reckons Jocky Wilson’s return to the top of darts is the GREATEST comeback of all time.

The former world No1 became a cult hero when he won his first World Championship in 1982, beating John Lowe 5-3 in the final.

But seven years later the Scot produced one of the most remarkable performances in history by beating Eric Bristow 6-4 in the 1989 final.

Five-time world champ Bristow had fought back from 5-0 down to level at 5-5 before Wilson eventually held his nerve to win the deciding set.

Ex-pro Nicholson insists Wilson’s return to the summit after seven years away is the most remarkable turnaround in the history of the sport.

He told Sporting Life: “When he won the world title in 1982, Jocky was a cult hero. His picture had famously appeared on Top of the Pops with Dexys Midnight Runners, people knew him from Bullseye and he was a genuine celebrity.

“We have to remember that being world champion in those days didn't automatically give you limousines and first-class travel. These guys could still be struggling for a living, going from place to place, exhibition to exhibition, and that lifestyle took its toll.

“By 1987, John Lowe was beating Eric Bristow for the world title and the question with Jocky was almost: where is he? He was in obscurity.

“People didn't really know what he was up to and you could easily have thought he was going to become one of those one-time world champions we reference years later and say: ‘Oh, what happened to him?’

“Then, in 1989, he turned up at Lakeside. Out of obscurity, looking fresher in that famous white shirt. That's why I think we sometimes tell the story of that final slightly wrongly.

“Everybody remembers Eric Bristow coming back from 5-0 down and taking Jocky all the way before Jocky eventually won the deciding set.

“That's obviously an incredible comeback within the match.

“But what gets lost – and I don't want people to forget this – is that Jocky winning the title was the biggest comeback of all.”

Wilson had long battled with booze and was dogged by health problems, making his resurgence at the top even more remarkable.

The Asset added: “He had spent years away from the very top of the game. He'd struggled. We know he had his problems with alcohol and we know he could be very reclusive.

“Yet when he came out of his shell, he provided moments some people can only dream of.

“And then there is that moment when he hits double 10 to become world champion again.

“Go back and watch it. The camerawork from the BBC is genius. There's that little zoom-in on Jocky just before he throws the dart and it makes the whole moment even more impactful.

“That 1989 final is one of the most important darts matches of all time and I won't hear any different from anybody.

“Sometimes we get so lost in everything that has happened in the PDC era that we forget the gravitas darts had before the split.

“Millions upon millions of people were watching that match and for me it was on a par with Dennis Taylor beating Steve Davis in the World Snooker final of 1985. It was that important.

“But the comeback of Jocky is the story. It wasn't Bristow's ability to come back from 5-0 and take the final all the way.

“It was Jocky coming back from winning the World Championship in 1982 to winning it again seven years later.

“And the modern game actually helps to show us how difficult that is.”

Wilson's return remains the benchmark for Nicholson, who believes only another huge gap between world-title victories could surpass it.

He continued: “Gary Anderson won his last world title in 2016 and if you'd said to him that night, "That's your last one," he'd probably have looked at you and said: "You're having a laugh, aren't you?"

“Since then he's been back in World Championship finals. He was in that incredible 2017 final and again in 2021. He was close to another one in 2026.

“But there's still no guarantee he'll ever win another world title.

“Michael van Gerwen's last one was in 2019. He's reached World Championship finals since then too, but he hasn't managed to get his hands on that trophy again.

“That's the point. When you're talking about gaps between world-title wins, the longer that gap becomes, the more unlikely another one is.

“Seven years is enormous. That's why what Jocky did should never be reduced to simply being "another world title".

“He disappeared from the very top of the sport, people wondered what had happened to him, and then seven years after becoming world champion for the first time he came back and did it again.

“For me, that's the biggest comeback darts has ever seen.

“And unless Gary Anderson somehow wins another World Championship more than a decade after his last one, Jocky's will remain the benchmark.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar