Nicky Virachkul
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| Nicky Virachkul | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Nickname | "The Thailand Cowboy" |
| Born | June 3, 1948 Thailand |
| Died | April 17, 1999 (aged 50) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Darts information | |
| Playing darts since | 1968 |
| Darts | 21g Accudarts[citation needed] |
| Laterality | Right-handed |
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |
| BDO | 1975–1988 |
| WDF major events – best performances | |
| World Ch'ship | 3rd place: 1978 |
| World Masters | Semi-final: 1980 |
| Other tournament wins | |
| Tournament | Years |
| Windy City Open WDF World Cup Singles North American Open Dallas Open Camellia Classic | 1978 1979 1982 1983 1986, 1987 |
| Other achievements | |
| 1996 National Darts Hall of Fame inductee | |
Nicky Virachkul (June 3, 1948 – April 17, 1999) was an American professional darts player who competed in the 1970s and 1980s.
Background[edit]
Virachkul was from Lampang, Thailand, and was a javelin thrower during high school.[1][2] He moved to the United States in 1968 to study business administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.[3] He later became a naturalized citizen.
Career[edit]
Virachkul represented the United States internationally in darts tournaments.
He competed at the first Embassy World Darts Championship in 1978, losing narrowly by 7–8 in the semi-final to eventual champion, Leighton Rees. He won third place in a play-off by defeating Stefan Lord. Virachakul reached the quarter-finals on three other occasions: in 1981 (losing to Eric Bristow), 1982 (losing to Bobby George) and 1984 (losing to Dave Whitcombe). Despite his respectable record, it was nevertheless a surprise when he defeated the defending World Champion, Keith Deller, in the first round of the 1984 World Championship. Deller had his revenge in the first round the following year. The 1985 championship was Virachkul's last appearance in the final stages. Despite competing in the first eight World Championships, he never again qualified after the tournament moved to the Lakeside Country Club in 1986.
Virachkul competed in the third WDF World Cup darts tournament in 1979 and won the singles title. In 1980 he reached the semi-finals of the Winmau World Masters. He also won the 1978 Windy City Open, the 1982 North American Open and the 1983 Dallas Open.
Nicky Virachkul was inducted into the National Darts Hall of Fame in 1996.[4]
Death[edit]
Suffering from cancer, Virachkul died in 1999 at the age of 50.[citation needed]
World Championship results[edit]
BDO[edit]
- 1978: 3rd place (beat Stefan Lord 4–5) (legs)
- 1979: 2nd round (lost to Alan Glazier 1–2) (sets)
- 1980: 2nd round (lost to Bill Lennard 0–2)
- 1981: Quarter-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 0–4)
- 1982: Quarter-finals (lost to Bobby George 1–4)
- 1983: 1st round (lost to Keith Deller 1–2)
- 1984: Quarter-finals (lost to Dave Whitcombe 0–5)
- 1985: 1st round (lost to Keith Deller 0–2)
Career finals[edit]
WDF major finals: 1 (1 title)[edit]
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 1979 | World Cup Singles |  Ceri Morgan
|
4–3 (s) |
References[edit]
- ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (January 27, 1975). "Nation's Most Artful Dartists Thrive in Barroom or Ballroom". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-Javelin Star Is Pro Dart Player". United Press International. February 2, 1983. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ Litsky, Frank; Chass, Murray (February 4, 1983). "Scouting; Detoured by Dart". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "National Darts Hall of Fame". PhillyDarts. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
External links[edit]
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