John Bowles (born 26 May 1967) is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He has twice come through Q School to play on the tour. He is best known for hitting a double "Robin Hood" on live television.
Bowles made his television debut at the 2011 UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton as a pub qualifier. He defeated Peter Manley, Devon Petersen, Justin Pipe and Steve Beaton before losing 4âÂÂ9 to Dave Chisnall in the last 16 earning himself ã4,000 in the process. That year was the furthest a pub qualifier has gone in the history of the UK Open sharing the feat with Andy Boulton.
He won a two-year PDC Pro Tour card in 2012 via Q School. His best results of 2012 were last 16 defeats in the second UK Open Qualifier and the sixth Players Championship, losing to Vincent van der Voort 5âÂÂ6 on both occasions. He also lost in the last 96 of the UK Open 1âÂÂ4 to Nigel Heydon.
In November 2012, Bowles won six games to reach the final of the PDC World Championship qualifier, where he lost 1âÂÂ5 to Stuart Kellett. However, his run to the final earned him a spot in the preliminary round in what was his first appearance at the World Championship. He beat Spain's Carlos RodrÃÂguez by four legs to two in the preliminary round and then came from 1âÂÂ2 down in sets against Jamie Caven to win 3âÂÂ2. Bowles cited a 121 checkout to win the fourth set as the key to winning the match. He played fourth seed Gary Anderson in the second round and lost 3âÂÂ4 in sets in an extremely close match. Bowles missed one dart at double 20 in three separate legs to reach the last 16. After the tournament Bowles was ranked world number 64. He reached his first PDC semi-final in the sixth 2013 UK Open Qualifier in April, having defeated the likes of Mervyn King (with an average of 108) and Brendan Dolan, but lost 3âÂÂ6 to Kim Huybrechts. This result helped him finish 22nd on the UK Open Order of Merit to enter the competition at the third round stage, where he beat Paul Nicholson 9âÂÂ5. He played Terry Temple in the next round and lost 7âÂÂ9. He reached the last 16 once during the rest of the year, at the seventh Players Championship, in a run that included a 6âÂÂ0 whitewash over Andy Hamilton before he lost 6âÂÂ4 to Peter Wright. Bowles missed out on reaching the 2014 World Championship by just ã650 on the ProTour Order of Merit.
Bowles' ranking increased by 14 places in 2013 to begin 2014 world number 50. He lost 5âÂÂ1 to Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the UK Open. Bowles had his best results in Players Championship events, losing in the last 16 of two events, before reaching the quarter-finals of the 19th tournament with wins over Stuart Kellett, Mervyn King, Andy Smith and Vincent van der Voort. He faced Brendan Dolan and was edged out 6âÂÂ5.
Bowles lost his prize money from the 2013 World Championship on the Order of Merit at the beginning of 2015, which was largely the reason which saw him drop to world number 61, still inside the top 64 who retain their tour cards. He qualified for the 2015 German Darts Championship and beat Chris Aubrey 6âÂÂ2, before losing 6âÂÂ3 to Steve Beaton in the second round. Bowles played in the UK Open for the sixth successive year, but lost 5âÂÂ2 to Steve Douglas in the first round. Bowles could only reach the last 16 of one tournament this year, which came at the 11th Players Championship and he was beaten 6âÂÂ1 by Nigel Heydon.
Bowles was ranked 73rd on the PDC Order of Merit after the 2016 World Championship, meaning he had to enter Q School to win his place back. He was successful at the first attempt and stated that he was looking to add more consistency to his game and hoped that the darts room he had built at his house would help him do this. He failed to qualify for the 2016 UK Open, but did make the German Darts Masters and saw off Fabian Herz 6âÂÂ3 in the first round, before losing 6âÂÂ4 to Adrian Lewis. Bowles' best run of the year was at the 8th Players Championship event where he ousted Devon Petersen, Alan Norris and Berry van Peer in advancing to the last 16. He was beaten 6âÂÂ1 by Dave Chisnall.
Bowles won through to the final round of the qualifier for the 2017 World Championship, but lost 5âÂÂ0 to Kevin Simm. This was still enough to win a place in the preliminary round and he was beaten 2âÂÂ0 by David Platt, losing both sets in deciding legs.
Whilst playing amateur rugby league for local club Simms Cross, Bowles suffered a serious broken arm leaving him with metal screws holding his arm together. Bowles is a builder by trade.