Heartbroken darts star Martin Adams declares the BDO ‘dead’ as it faces financial ruin during coronavirus crisis

HEARTBROKEN Martin Adams has declared the BDO “dead” as it faces financial crisis during the global Covid-19 crisis.

The BDO’s commercial arm – BDO Enterprises Ltd – has gone into liquidation this summer, throwing the professional side of their organisation into doubt.

The BDO World Championships, which have run annually since 1978, are not expected to take place next January and it doesn’t even appear on the official website’s calendar page.

Darts boss Des Jacklin was heavily criticised for reducing the 2020 world champion’s prize money by a whopping £77,000 – the lowest it has been since 1989 – amid a lack of broadcast and sponsorship interest.

Lakeside legend Adams, a three-time world darts champion, is saddened the BDO is becoming extinct.

Wolfie, 64, said: “Unfortunately the BDO has died.

“And it died at the World Masters last year in my view. That was a very sad, sad day.

“What more can you say? I think it is unrecoverable.

“I think it is beyond saving now. When you go into voluntary liquidation it means nails in the coffin time.

“Talking of coffins, the BDO was buried with Olly Croft, the founder.

“It is emotional. It breaks my heart. It’s very sad it has come to this. I always try to think of something positive.

“A positive phrase like: ‘All good things come to an end.’ It was a very good thing. But it seems as if it has come to an end.

“I’ll keep playing my normal times. There is the WDF, the English Darts Organisation, the Wales and Scotland bodies are still going – so there is plenty still for me to participate in.

“I love the exhibitions. I am at the time in life where I play the tournaments I enjoy.”