14 Facts About Leighton Rees

Leighton Thomas Rees was a Welsh professional darts player.

Leighton Rees was the first BDO World Professional Darts Champion, having won the inaugural 1978 BDO World Darts Championship, and was a former World No 1 player.

Leighton Rees was one of the sport's most successful players throughout the 1970s, and retired from the game in 1991.

Leighton Rees attended the local Mill Street School in Pontypridd where one of his teachers famously declared on his report card that he would be "good only for reading the sports pages of the South Wales Echo".

Waddell quickly offered all three the chance to play on The Indoor League, which started being televised across Britain from 1973, and they did not disappoint, Ridler and Evans both scored a number of 180s in their matches, but although he did not perform as well in 1973, it was Leighton Rees who stole the show.

Leighton Rees went on to have the most success of any darts player in The Indoor League, becoming the only player to win the darts tournament twice.

Leighton Rees was part of the 1977 Wales team that won the first World Darts Federation World Cup alongside Alan Evans and David "Rocky" Jones.

Leighton Rees had a good record on Bullseye, scoring more than 301 with nine darts on at least six appearances in eight and thus having his charity money doubled.

Leighton Rees wrote an autobiographical account of his life in 1979, titled On Darts, which included tips on playing the game.

In 1980, Leighton Rees married Debbie Ryle, a Californian, in Las Vegas while he was competing in a tournament there.

Leighton Rees was forced to make his living from playing exhibition matches with his compatriot and great friend Alan Evans.

Leighton Rees quit his exhibition work after having a pacemaker fitted and had a heart bypass operation in his later life.

Leighton Rees returned to the stage of the World Championships to make the draw for the event in the year before his death.

Leighton Rees died in his home village, Ynysybwl, in 2003, aged 63.