THE 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship will mark the end of an era, with Master of Ceremonies Phil Jones hanging up his microphone after the final on New Year's Day.

The charismatic cockney is in his 30th year involved in the sport, and his unique introductions have been seen here at the Circus Tavern and across PDC tournaments since 1993.

He will head off into the sunshine of Las Vegas in January to live with new wife Michelle, after spending a final fortnight centre stage, introduced by his favourite Status Quo riff - "Rocking All Over The World".

"It will be very emotional," said Phil. "It's been a long time and it will be particularly special because my final event is at the Circus Tavern.

"I go right back to 1977 in darts, but with the PDC I've been there since making that first announcement on Sky in 1993."

Jones had already received his first break into the Master of Ceremonies role at that time.

"I was a journalist with Darts World magazine for 17 years, writing the Cockney Pride column," Jones reflects. "I started that in 1978-79 and it was a good experience which I enjoyed.

"It wasn't specifically a London-based column. The editor Tony Wood allowed me to cover most subjects and it got me known.

"In 1977, I guess I found myself in the right place at the right time. The MC hadn't turned up at a show and the organiser said to me 'You can do this'.

"I said 'No, I can't' but then he mentioned a sum of money and suddenly I realised I could!

"It was as simple as that, but I realised I could spend years trying to play darts or rather less time actually standing in front of an audience.

"My early days were with the London County side, but then particularly I signed with Bobby George in 1979 and we went all over the world.

"It was a relationship that lasted for a great number of years.

"I still work with a lot of professionals now, such as Kevin Painter, Peter Manley, Dennis Priestley and Andy Jenkins.

"I still enjoy that, I love the personal contact with an audience."

The Circus Tavern audience is one which Jones has a particularly strong bond with.

"My favourite venue will remain with the World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens, just because of the stature of the venue," he said. "It's absolutely perfect.

"But for atmosphere, there is absolutely nothing like the Circus Tavern.

"I don't think any player has ever played in an atmosphere like the one created by the Circus Tavern crowd.

"It's a very special fanbase and I've always had a rapport with them."

Jones' role has enabled him to see some of the sport's greatest games at close quarters, with three matches standing out.

"Certainly the semi-final between Eric Bristow and Phil Taylor in 1997 was very memorable," he said.

"It went right to the wire, and the World Championship final between Kevin Painter and Phil in 2004 was superb too.

"They stand out, and more recently the quarter-final between Phil and Raymond van Barneveld in this year's UK Open at the Reebok Stadium was something you just didn't want to miss."

While Jones' days behind the microphone may be coming to an end, his darting memories may yet return in a proposed book.

"I'm selling up in London and moving out to Las Vegas with my new wife Michelle, and taking up some opportunities that are already out there for me," he said.

"But I'm also hoping to sit down and write a book.

"It's not going to be an autobiography, and it's certainly not going to be an expose of anyone, but just about all the funny moments which have occurred over the last 30 years.

"There have been a lot of hilarious times and many people have said I should put them down in print."

PHIL'S TOP THREE PLAYERS
1. Phil Taylor
I go along with everyone else and have to put Taylor at the top. Quite simply, he is the only player I have ever known to have a gearbox. He can actually raise his game, where other people start off at the peak level, but he doesn't always do that. He's the best I've ever seen.

2. Eric Bristow
If Eric hadn't got dartitis, he could have created a lot more records. He may not have created as many records as Phil, but he would have created a lot more records that people would have found very difficult to break.

3. Dennis Priestley
I have to say Dennis, simply because the guy is still doing it after all these years. It's absolutely phenomenal.

Article reproduced from 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship Programme

Click here to read about Phil's induction to the PDC Hall of Fame