Gary Stone
{{short description|Scottish darts player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox darts player
| name = Gary Stone
| image =
| fullname =
| nickname = Stoney
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|06|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bellshill, Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| hometown = Larkhall
| home country = Scotland
| since = 1997
| darts = 21 Gram Unicorn Neon
| laterality = Right-handed
| music = "Freedom" by QFX
| BDO = 2009–2014, 2018–2020
| PDC = 2014–2018
| WDF = 2018–
| currentrank = {{WDF Rankings|Gary Stone}}
| BDO World = Last 16: 2012, 2023, 2024
| World Masters = Last 16: 2018, 2019
| PDC World =
| Matchplay =
| Grand Prix =
| Grand Slam =
| UK Open = Last 96: 2013, 2016
| European =
| Premier League =
| results = {{aligned table|leftright=y|fullwidth=y|class=nowrap
| Romanian Classic | 2023
| Killarney Open | 2022
| Swedish Classic | 2019
}}
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's Darts}}
{{MedalCountry | {{SCO}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | WDF World Cup}}
{{MedalGold | 2013 St. John's | Men's team}}
{{MedalSilver | 2013 St. John's | Men's overall}}
{{MedalCompetition | WDF Europe Cup}}
{{MedalGold | 2012 Kemer | Men's singles}}
}}
Gary Stone (born 19 June 1981) is a Scottish professional darts player who currently plays in the World Darts Federation tournaments.
Career
=BDO=
Stone began his darts career at The Village Tavern in his hometown of Larkhall, reaching the semifinal of the weekly tournament before being eliminated by eventual winner and local darts protégé Darren Cross. The next week, Stone reached the final only to be beaten again by "The Crucifying Cross". It was Stone's first prize in darts; the prize was four credits for the jukebox.
Stone was spotted by local promoter Dave "Clubber" Lang, who recommended him to the BDO tour's management, who beat out competition from rival darts promotions in St Tam's and Netties to sign him to play professionally on the tour.
Stone qualified for the 2012 BDO World Championship and reached the last 16, defeating Ron Meulenkamp 3–0 but losing 4–0 to Martin Adams.{{cite web | url=http://dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=3814 | title=2012 BDO World Championship Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=18 January 2014}} He won the WDF Europe Cup, beating reigning world champion Christian Kist in the final. He qualified for the 2013 BDO World Championship and lost 3–1 to Steve Douglas in the first round.{{cite web | url=http://dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=4194 | title=2013 BDO World Championship Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=18 January 2014}}
Stone was part of the Scotland team that won gold in the men's team event at the WDF World Cup in 2013, with teammates Ross Montgomery, Craig Baxter and Alan Soutar. Scotland defeated America 9–7 in the team final. Stone also helped Scotland win silver in the overall competition.{{cite news | url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/ross-the-boss-montgomery-top-2356828 | title=Ross 'The Boss' Montgomery is on top of the world after winning darts team event in Canada | newspaper=Daily Record | accessdate=18 January 2014}}
In 2019, Gary Stone won the Swedish Classic, defeating John Scott 5–2 in the final.
=PDC=
Stone entered the PDC Q School in January 2014, and secured a tour card on the third day with a 5–2 win over Steve Grubb in the final round.{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1i4ogh3rk4t7s1t9c2totigmr6/title/2014-pdc-qualifying-school-day-three | title=2014 PDC Qualifying School Day Three | publisher=PDC | accessdate=18 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119192556/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1i4ogh3rk4t7s1t9c2totigmr6/title/2014-pdc-qualifying-school-day-three | archive-date=19 January 2014 | url-status=dead }} He made his debut in the European Tour at the European Darts Open in July, losing 6–4 to Ryan de Vreede in the first round.{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1wv3l5x4ug8qf1u6zx05njlcoy/title/european-darts-open-first-round | title=European Darts Open First Round | publisher=PDC | accessdate=25 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713212058/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1wv3l5x4ug8qf1u6zx05njlcoy/title/european-darts-open-first-round | archive-date=13 July 2014 | url-status=dead }} He also reached the last 32 of two Players Championship events during the season.{{cite web|title=Gary Stone 2014 |url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?PlayerKey=7278 |publisher=Darts Database |accessdate=25 November 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112073821/http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=7278 |archivedate=12 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}
He qualified for the 2015 German Darts Masters and overcame Rowby-John Rodriguez 6–4, before losing 6–2 to Michael van Gerwen.{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=6007 | title=2015 PDC German Darts Masters Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=29 November 2015}} Stone also reached the second round of the Dutch Darts Masters by beating Dean Winstanley 6–4 with an average of almost 100, but then narrowly lost 6–5 to Steve Beaton.{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1jsp5qv1pkc2p1f5u1m3109gfj/title/dutch-darts-masters-day-one | title=Dutch Darts Masters Day One | publisher=PDC | accessdate=28 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605194929/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1jsp5qv1pkc2p1f5u1m3109gfj/title/dutch-darts-masters-day-one | archive-date=5 June 2015 | url-status=dead }} His tour card expired at the end of 2015 and with Stone ranked 100th on the Order of Merit he needed to enter Q School.{{cite web |title=Order of Merit on 4 January 2016 |url=http://www.pdc.tv/pdc-order-of-merit |publisher=PDC |accessdate=24 January 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112123309/http://www.pdc.tv/pdc-order-of-merit |archivedate=12 January 2016 |url-status=dead }} A single last 16 showing over the four days was not enough for Stone to win his place back.{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/x1g7xx11rnma14bqtki3hp884/title/2016-pdc-qualifying-school-day-four | title=2016 PDC Qualifying School Day Four | publisher=PDC | accessdate=24 January 2016 | archive-date=17 May 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517075546/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/x1g7xx11rnma14bqtki3hp884/title/2016-pdc-qualifying-school-day-four | url-status=dead }} A trio of last 64 defeats saw him qualify for the 2016 UK Open, where he beat Johnny Haines 6–5, before losing 6–2 to Jamie Caven in the second round.{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/156a9o4plva5l19rlctaxp6gwn/title/2016-coral-uk-open-day-one | title=2016 Coral UK Open Day One | publisher=PDC | accessdate=24 October 2016}} Stone played in the majority of Challenge Tour events, with two last 16 defeats being his best runs.{{cite web|title=Gary Stone 2016 |url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?PlayerKey=7278 |publisher=Darts Database |accessdate=25 October 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025125629/http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=7278 |archivedate=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}
World Championship results
=BDO=
- 2012: Second round (lost to Martin Adams 0–4)
- 2013: First round (lost to Steve Douglas 1–3)
- 2020: First round (lost to Jim Williams 2–3)
=WDF=
- 2023: Third round (lost to Andy Baetens 1–3)
- 2024: Third round (lost to Paul Lim 2–3)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Dartsdatabase|id=7278|name=Gary Stone}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stone, Gary}}
Category:British Darts Organisation players
Category:Professional Darts Corporation former tour card holders
Category:Sportspeople from Bellshill