Editing Ted Hankey (section)

==Darts career==

===BDO career===

In the [[2000 BDO World Darts Championship]], after beating [[Bob Taylor (darts player)|Bob Taylor]], Steve Douglas, [[Kevin Painter]] and [[Chris Mason (darts player)|Chris Mason]], Hankey [[Whitewash (sport)|whitewashed]] [[Ronnie Baxter]] 6–0 in the final, winning the match with a spectacular 170 checkout – the highest three-dart finish achievable.<ref name="data"/> The final lasted only 46 minutes, the shortest in the tournament's history. In the semi-final v Chris Mason, he scored a championship record 22 x 180s in a match. (The next highest are 15 and 14, which he also holds, in matches v [[Tony O'Shea]] in the final and [[Martin Adams]] in the semi-finals respectively, both in 2009.) He also scored a record 48 x 180s during the 2000 tournament.<ref name="data"/>
Hankey reached the final again in [[2001 BDO World Darts Championship|2001]], but lost to [[John Walton (darts player)|John Walton]] 6–2. After this Hankey went through a fairly barren spell at the [[Lakeside Leisure Complex|Lakeside]] and did not reach another major final or World Championship semi-final until his victory in the 2009 BDO World Championships.<ref name="data"/>

In [[2002 BDO World Darts Championship|2002]], he was knocked out in the second round by [[Wayne Jones (darts player)|Wayne Jones]] and suffered a first round exit in [[2003 BDO World Darts Championship|2003]] to 'Silverback' [[Tony O'Shea]].<ref name="data"/> Ranked number two for the [[2004 BDO World Darts Championship|2004 tournament]], he was defeated in the quarter-finals, again losing to O'Shea 5–1.<ref name="data"/> Hankey again reached the quarter-finals in [[2005 BDO World Darts Championship|2005]], this time falling to England captain Martin Adams 5–3, despite at one stage in the contest having led by 3–1 in sets.<ref name="data"/> In the [[2006 BDO World Darts Championship|2006 tournament]], Hankey had an uncharacteristic "bad day at the office", crashing out at the first hurdle to Dutchman [[Albertino Essers]].<ref name="data"/>

Seeded eighth for the [[2007 BDO World Darts Championship]], he defeated [[Mario Robbe]] of the [[Netherlands]] by 3–0 in the opening round. He then hit another 170 checkout in his tight 4–3 victory over qualifier Davy Richardson, before losing to Adams, again by 5–3.<ref name="data"/> Despite this setback, Hankey remained positive and upbeat about his darts future after the game. He achieved the 9-Darter in the Scottish open 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bdodarts.com/1201/21-02-2011/Scottish_Open_-_The_view_from_Poison_Arrow |title= Scottish Open – the view from Poison Arrow |access-date= 12 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120606210253/http://www.bdodarts.com/1201/21-02-2011/Scottish_Open_-_The_view_from_Poison_Arrow |archive-date=6 June 2012 }}</ref>

Hankey won his first round match of the [[2008 BDO World Darts Championship|2008 BDO World Championship]] over [[Steve West (darts player)|Steve West]] 3–2.<ref name="data"/> as he defeated [[Andy Boulton]] in the second round.<ref name="data"/>  He then lost in the quarter-finals to Australian [[Simon Whitlock]] 0–5.<ref name="data"/> 

However, controversy continued to follow Hankey during the BDO International Open (formerly the England Open) on 15 June 2008.<ref name="data"/>  During a quarter-final match with former [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] player [[Robbie Green]],  Hankey went on to lose the match 2–1 in sets in the deciding leg.<ref name="data"/> 

====Second world title and final seasons====
Hankey began the 2009 Lakeside Championships with a first round victory over close friend [[Brian Woods (darts player)|Brian Woods]] with a scoreline of 3–0.<ref name="data"/> He then went on to win the Championship, beating his problems with "[[oche]] rage" as well as opponents such as former World Champion Walton and England darts team captain Adams, winning the final 7–6 in sets against O'Shea.<ref name="data"/> Hankey led 4–2 at the interval, but missed several darts to win the match at 6–5, but he finally closed out the match 3–1 in the final set.<ref name="data"/>

===PDC career===
As a result of his world title win, Hankey was invited to the [[2009 Grand Slam of Darts]], which is organised by the PDC. He accepted the invitation and was drawn in group E with [[Scott Waites]], [[Wayne Mardle]] and [[Simon Whitlock]].<ref name="data"/>  He lost his opening group game 3–5 to Waites, but went on to win against [[Wayne Mardle]], and was defeated by Simon Whitlock 5–4.<ref name="data"/>

In the [[2010 BDO World Darts Championship]] Hankey beat [[Gary Robson (darts player)|Gary Robson]] 3–0 and [[Willy van de Wiel]] 4–1 before being knocked out of the competition in the quarter-final by [[Dave Chisnall]] with a scoreline of 5–4 on sets, despite at one point leading 4–1.<ref name="data"/>

In the [[2010 Grand Slam of Darts]] he defeated [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]] 5–4 in the group stages, giving him 2 wins out of 2.<ref name="data"/> He then went on to defeat [[Michael van Gerwen]], also 5–4, to proceed to the knockout stage of the competition.<ref name="data"/> Hankey was knocked out of the competition by [[Steve Beaton]] in the first knockout stage.<ref name="data"/> He won the [[Isle of Man Open|Isle of Man open]] but was unable to follow that up. Although he did get to the semi-finals of the [[England Open|English Open]].<ref name="data"/>

Hankey qualified for the 2011 [[Grand Slam of Darts]]. He managed to win 2 of his 3 group matches to qualify for the last 16.<ref name="data"/> He played [[Michael van Gerwen]] winning the match by 10 legs to 9 before losing narrowly against [[Mark Walsh (darts player)|Mark Walsh]] 14–16, after making a comeback from a 9–15 deficit.<ref name="data"/>

In the [[2012 BDO World Darts Championship]], Hankey defeated newcomer Clive Barden 3–2 in sets, then the man who knocked him out of the previous year's tournament, [[Scott Waites]] 4–3 to qualify for the quarter-final.<ref name="data"/> In the quarter-final, Hankey defeated [[Martin Atkins (darts player)|Martin Atkins]] 5–1.<ref name="data"/> In the semi-final, Hankey led against débutant and eventual champion [[Christian Kist]] 5–3 and had a dart at bullseye to win 6–4, but Kist recovered to win the match 6–5.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/darts/16562801|title=Ted Hankey|work=BBC Sport |access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref> After the match Hankey announced he did not plan on returning to Lakeside the following year and would instead join the BDO's rival organisation, the [[Professional Darts Corporation]] (PDC).<ref name="quit"/> Hankey also controversially suggested that the air conditioning was deliberately turned on when he was throwing for the match in the tenth set so as to prevent him from leaving the BDO as World Champion.<ref name="quit">{{cite news|title=BDO World Championship : Ted Hankey quits BDO after Kist defeat|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/darts/16562493.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 January 2012|date=14 January 2012}}</ref>

===Return to PDC===

The day after Hankey's announcement that he was leaving the BDO, the PDC announced on its website that it was offering two-year tour cards to the 2012 BDO World Darts Championship semi-finalists. This meant that Hankey automatically received a tour card to play in the PDC and its [[PDC Pro Tour|Pro Tour]], rather than having to play through the qualifying school tournament (usually a requirement to all new PDC players).<ref>{{cite web|title=PDC Statement Re: Tour Cards|url= http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2577909,00.html|access-date=17 January 2012|date=15 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120117001320/http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2577909,00.html|archive-date=17 January 2012}}</ref> His first event on the tour was the opening Players Championship of 2012, The Spanish Darts Trophy, where he lost 4–6 to [[Matthew Edgar]] in the preliminary round.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2591582,00.html | title=Pipe Claims First Blood In 2012 | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | date=28 January 2012 | access-date=29 January 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130062641/http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2591582,00.html | archive-date=30 January 2012 }}</ref> Hankey then won his first matches in the PDC by defeating [[Steve West (darts player)|Steve West]] 6–5 and [[Toon Greebe]] 6–1 in the first UK Open qualifier in Crawley, before losing 6–4 to [[Connie Finnan]]. In May, Hankey had his best finish on the tour to date, reaching the last 16 of the [[2012 PDC Pro Tour#2012 Players Championships|Players Championship Event 5]], losing 1–6 to [[Raymond van Barneveld]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2789065,00.html | title=Chisnall Enjoys Second 2012 Win | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=27 May 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120529032826/http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2789065,00.html | archive-date=29 May 2012 }}</ref> In his first major event on the tour, the [[2012 UK Open|UK Open]], Hankey beat qualifier Danny Dutson 4–0 and [[Andy Jenkins]] 4–1, but then lost to his old BDO rival [[Mervyn King (darts player)|Mervyn King]] 1–4 in the second round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2805211,00.html | title=Speedy Services UK Open Day One | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=8 June 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120609041224/http://www.pdc.tv/page/NewsdeskDetail/0,,10180~2805211,00.html | archive-date=9 June 2012 }}</ref>

====Health concerns====

Hankey was drawn in Group B of the [[2012 Grand Slam of Darts]] with [[Michael van Gerwen]], [[Robert Thornton (darts player)|Robert Thornton]] and [[Steve Beaton]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1q96iutol6sr11wjmvqbd49mtw/title/william-hill-grand-slam-draw | title=William Hill Grand Slam Draw | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] |access-date= 5 November 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121108002955/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1q96iutol6sr11wjmvqbd49mtw/title/william-hill-grand-slam-draw | archive-date=8 November 2012 }}</ref> He was whitewashed 0–5 by Thornton but defeated Beaton 5–3 to stay alive in the group.<ref name="data">{{cite web |url= https://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/player-profile-live.php?pid=176 |title= Ted Hankey |publisher=Darts Database |access-date= 17 January 2025}}</ref> However, requiring a 5–0 or 5–1 victory over Van Gerwen in his last game to have a chance of progressing, Hankey visibly struggled with a three-dart average of 59, missing five successive shots at a single in the first leg (including two that missed the board completely) to set up a double. Hankey was then seen rubbing his left eye repeatedly and losing his balance, and Van Gerwen eventually won the match 5–0 with a 90 average. Two days later it was revealed that Hankey had suffered a [[transient ischemic attack]], had very high cholesterol and diabetes and needed six to eight weeks' rest, which ruled him out of the qualifier for the [[2013 PDC World Darts Championship|2013 World Championship]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/358723/Ted-Hankey-has-stroke | title=Ted Hankey Has Stroke | newspaper=[[Daily Express]] | access-date=17 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/darts/20396445 | title=Ted Hankey told to rest after suffering a mild stroke | work=[[BBC Sport]] | access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref>

====Return to the oche====
Hankey returned to competitive darts for the first time in three months in February 2013, in an attempt to qualify for the first European Tour event of the year, the [[2013 PDC European Tour Event 1|UK Darts Masters]]. He beat Wayne Atwood in the last 96, before losing 3–6 to Keith Rooney.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=5149 | title=2013 PDC UK Masters UK Qualifying Results | publisher=Darts Database | access-date=26 February 2013}}</ref> He produced encouraging displays at the second [[2013 PDC Pro Tour#2013 Players Championships|Players Championship]] by beating [[John Henderson (darts player)|John Henderson]] 6–3, world number 15 [[Paul Nicholson (darts player)|Paul Nicholson]] 6–5 and world number four [[James Wade]] 6–1 to reach the fourth round. Hankey faced [[Dennis Smith (darts player)|Dennis Smith]] and lost 5–6, missing one dart for the match in the deciding leg to play in his first PDC quarter-final.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/18e7hsnyphyx51nwatch2ekzm4/title/super-van-gerwen-kos-kellett | title=Super Van Gerwen KO's Kellett! | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=5 May 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130508011304/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/18e7hsnyphyx51nwatch2ekzm4/title/super-van-gerwen-kos-kellett |archive-date= 8 May 2013 }}</ref> Hankey qualified for the [[2013 UK Open|UK Open]] and beat [[Bernd Roith]] and Dave Weston before seeing a 3–1 lead turn into a 4–9 defeat in the third round to [[John Part]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/kyvvdwabovg61ux60pkqc1lwb/title/speedy-services-uk-open---friday | title=Speedy Services UK Open – Friday | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=8 June 2013}}</ref> He qualified for his first European Tour event in July but was forced to withdraw from it in September due to whiplash injuries suffered in a minor car crash.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1mrgzcabn6gtk1viy4v6sjbh9p/title/hankey--taylor-to-miss-et7 | title=Hankey & Taylor To Miss ET7 | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=28 September 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130923062054/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1mrgzcabn6gtk1viy4v6sjbh9p/title/hankey--taylor-to-miss-et7 | archive-date=23 September 2013 }}</ref> He returned for the [[2013 Grand Slam of Darts|Grand Slam of Darts]] and lost 5–3 in his opening group game to [[Scott Waites]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/5mp0hy5db74o14vunw5ogmpw3/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-one | title=William Hill Grand Slam Day One | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=10 November 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131109142238/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/5mp0hy5db74o14vunw5ogmpw3/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-one | archive-date=9 November 2013 }}</ref> However, Hankey produced a superb performance in his next game against [[Dave Chisnall]] as from 3–3 he hit a 170 finish and then scored 177 in the next leg to set up 32 and a 5–3 win.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/byppoa365lsu1p1glhy3czamo/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-two | title=William Hill Grand Slam Day Two | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=10 November 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110190317/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/byppoa365lsu1p1glhy3czamo/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-two | archive-date=10 November 2013 }}</ref> He then defeated 2013 World Youth champion [[Michael Smith (darts player)|Michael Smith]] 5–1 in his final game to progress to the knock-out stages, where he faced [[Simon Whitlock]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/FixtureList.aspx?EventKey=4276 | title=2013 Grand Slam Of Darts Fixtures | publisher=Darts Database | access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> Hankey made an amazing fightback from 6–1 down to win 10–9 and reach the quarter-finals of the event for the second time in his career.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/ammznf7m35wx1uqqr473jl05y/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-five | title=William Hill Grand Slam Day Five | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=13 November 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114002250/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/ammznf7m35wx1uqqr473jl05y/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-five | archive-date=14 November 2013 }}</ref> He played Waites once again and his run came to an end with a 16–10 defeat.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/3buymo8h3fqb1fhr4h15wd2yr/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-seven | title=William Hill Grand Slam Day Seven | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=15 November 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118012625/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/3buymo8h3fqb1fhr4h15wd2yr/title/william-hill-grand-slam-day-seven | archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref>

===Return to the BDO===
Hankey's two-year tour card expired after the [[2014 PDC World Darts Championship|2014 World Championship]] and with him being ranked world number 94, well outside the top 64 who retain their professional status, he lost his position in the PDC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Order of Merit on 2 January 2014|url=http://www.pdc.tv/pdc-order-of-merit|work=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]]|access-date=13 January 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140102233715/http://www.pdc.tv/pdc-order-of-merit|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He registered to Q School, but withdrew from the event before it began.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/imuu8h7ko4fxzhk04jblaifg/title/record-entry-for-2014-qualifying-school | title=Record Entry For 2014 Qualifying School | publisher=[[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]] | access-date=13 January 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116073336/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/imuu8h7ko4fxzhk04jblaifg/title/record-entry-for-2014-qualifying-school | archive-date=16 January 2014 }}</ref> It was announced soon after that Hankey had decided to end his unsuccessful stay in the PDC and would return to the BDO.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/other-sport/2014/01/14/ted-hankey-returns-to-the-bdo/ | title=Telford's Ted Hankey returns to the BDO | newspaper=Shropshire Star | access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref>
In his first season back in the BDO, his best results were two quarter finals as he narrowly failed to automatically qualify for the Lakeside, being ranked 29 in the BDO (top 28 qualified). He also failed to qualify for the Masters, Lakeside and the World Trophy in the qualifying tournaments held in Hull. In 2015 he qualified for the [[2015 BDO World Trophy]] but was beaten in the first round by Sam Hewson 6–4.<ref name="data"/>