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Denis Ovens
04 Aug 2009
DENIS first came through on the darts circuit in the mid-1980s, but a quarter-final at the 1999 World Masters and victory in the Scottish Open that year marked his rise up the rankings.
He competed in the 2000 Embassy Championship, losing to Bobby George in round one, before joining the PDC circuit that year.
Ovens made his PDC World Championship debut in 2001, losing to Les Fitton, but won the Irish Masters, Claims Solutions Classic and Jersey Darts Festival, as well as qualifying for the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.
Richie Burnett defeated him in round two at the 2002 World Championship, but Ovens bounced back to retain the Irish Masters title with a win over Alan Warriner.
He qualified for the inaugural Las Vegas Desert Classic, losing to Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals, but was edged out in the World Matchplay by John Lowe in round two and at the first round stage in the World Grand Prix to Dave Smith.
Dennis Smith ended his 2003 World Championship challenge in round two, and semi-finals of the Eastbourne Open and UK Open South-West Regional Final.
The summer proved less successful, with a last 32 exit to Dennis Priestley in the UK Open followed by a group stage exit in the Desert Classic and a second round loss to Dennis Smith in the World Matchplay.
He also reached the last 16 of the World Grand Prix, losing to Roland Scholten, before being a last 32 loser in the 2004 World Championship at the hands of Hertfordshire rival Alex Roy.
Ovens would reach four quarter-finals or better on the circuit in the first part of the year, and made the last 16 at the UK Open before going down to Scholten.
He was also a last 16 loser in the Desert Classic and World Matchplay, to Ronnie Baxter and Colin Lloyd respectively, before reaching the final of the Ireland Open Classic, where he went down to Taylor.
Lloyd ended his World Grand Prix chances in round one, but he bounced back to have his best World Championship performance at the 2005 event, reaching the quarter-finals before going out to Mark Dudbridge.
Ovens then won both the Eastbourne Open and UK Open Southern Regional Final, and bounced back from a disappointing summer campaign - with a last 16 showing at the World Matchplay his best performance - to reach the final of the Open Hotel Zwartewater.
Despite defeat to Terry Jenkins in that event and a first round exit to Peter Manley in the World Grand Prix, he moved into tenth place in the world rankings ahead of the 2006 World Championship.
Qualifier Steve Alker denied him in the second round at Purfleet, but he went on to reach the semis at the UK Open North-East Regional Final and then the final of the West Tyrone Open, where he went down to Chris Mason.
The UK Open saw him reach the last 16 before losing to Alan Tabern, but he was a first round victim in each of the Desert Classic, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix,
An improved end to the year saw him reach semi-finals in Chicago and Great Yarmouth, and he gained revenge for his Las Vegas defeat to Steve Smith at the 2007 World Championship, although he lost 4-3 to Tabern in round two.
Mervyn King condemned him to a last 32 finish in the UK Open, and after missing out in the Desert Classic qualifiers he went down to Raymond van Barneveld in the World Matchplay.
An improved run of form in the autumn saw him reach the semi-finals of the Peachtree Open and then win the Ireland Open Classic with victory over Colin Osborne.
He then reached the final of the German Darts Championship, losing to Phil Taylor but earning a Grand Slam of Darts spot for 2008.
Jan van der Rassel took victory over Ovens in the World Championship, but he again responded well to reach finals at the UK Open North-East Regional Final and at a Players Championship in Gibraltar.
His UK Open bid failed in the last 64 against Steve Maish, while Peter Manley overcame him in the World Matchplay.
But last eight finishes in events in Canada and Chicago set him up for a strong autumn, which included impressive televised wins over Andy Hamilton at the European Championship and Adrian Lewis in the Grand Slam of Darts, although he was a last 16 loser in both events.
He reached the quarter-finals of the German Darts Championship before Ronnie Baxter defeated him at the last 32 stage in the 2009 World Championship.
However, a semi-final in Germany would be his best PDC Pro Tour run in the first half of the year, and Tabern ended his UK Open hopes in the last 64.
Ovens bounced back from missing out in the Desert Classic's qualifiers to overcome Priestley in the World Matchplay's first round, only going down 14-12 to Terry Jenkins in the last 16 following a spirited display.
PDC Tournament Wins
Irish Masters 2001, 2002
Claims Solutions Classic 2001,
Jersey Darts Festival 2001
Eastbourne Open 2005
UK Open Southern Regional Final 2005
Ireland Open Classic 2007
He competed in the 2000 Embassy Championship, losing to Bobby George in round one, before joining the PDC circuit that year.
Ovens made his PDC World Championship debut in 2001, losing to Les Fitton, but won the Irish Masters, Claims Solutions Classic and Jersey Darts Festival, as well as qualifying for the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.
Richie Burnett defeated him in round two at the 2002 World Championship, but Ovens bounced back to retain the Irish Masters title with a win over Alan Warriner.
He qualified for the inaugural Las Vegas Desert Classic, losing to Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals, but was edged out in the World Matchplay by John Lowe in round two and at the first round stage in the World Grand Prix to Dave Smith.
Dennis Smith ended his 2003 World Championship challenge in round two, and semi-finals of the Eastbourne Open and UK Open South-West Regional Final.
The summer proved less successful, with a last 32 exit to Dennis Priestley in the UK Open followed by a group stage exit in the Desert Classic and a second round loss to Dennis Smith in the World Matchplay.
He also reached the last 16 of the World Grand Prix, losing to Roland Scholten, before being a last 32 loser in the 2004 World Championship at the hands of Hertfordshire rival Alex Roy.
Ovens would reach four quarter-finals or better on the circuit in the first part of the year, and made the last 16 at the UK Open before going down to Scholten.
He was also a last 16 loser in the Desert Classic and World Matchplay, to Ronnie Baxter and Colin Lloyd respectively, before reaching the final of the Ireland Open Classic, where he went down to Taylor.
Lloyd ended his World Grand Prix chances in round one, but he bounced back to have his best World Championship performance at the 2005 event, reaching the quarter-finals before going out to Mark Dudbridge.
Ovens then won both the Eastbourne Open and UK Open Southern Regional Final, and bounced back from a disappointing summer campaign - with a last 16 showing at the World Matchplay his best performance - to reach the final of the Open Hotel Zwartewater.
Despite defeat to Terry Jenkins in that event and a first round exit to Peter Manley in the World Grand Prix, he moved into tenth place in the world rankings ahead of the 2006 World Championship.
Qualifier Steve Alker denied him in the second round at Purfleet, but he went on to reach the semis at the UK Open North-East Regional Final and then the final of the West Tyrone Open, where he went down to Chris Mason.
The UK Open saw him reach the last 16 before losing to Alan Tabern, but he was a first round victim in each of the Desert Classic, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix,
An improved end to the year saw him reach semi-finals in Chicago and Great Yarmouth, and he gained revenge for his Las Vegas defeat to Steve Smith at the 2007 World Championship, although he lost 4-3 to Tabern in round two.
Mervyn King condemned him to a last 32 finish in the UK Open, and after missing out in the Desert Classic qualifiers he went down to Raymond van Barneveld in the World Matchplay.
An improved run of form in the autumn saw him reach the semi-finals of the Peachtree Open and then win the Ireland Open Classic with victory over Colin Osborne.
He then reached the final of the German Darts Championship, losing to Phil Taylor but earning a Grand Slam of Darts spot for 2008.
Jan van der Rassel took victory over Ovens in the World Championship, but he again responded well to reach finals at the UK Open North-East Regional Final and at a Players Championship in Gibraltar.
His UK Open bid failed in the last 64 against Steve Maish, while Peter Manley overcame him in the World Matchplay.
But last eight finishes in events in Canada and Chicago set him up for a strong autumn, which included impressive televised wins over Andy Hamilton at the European Championship and Adrian Lewis in the Grand Slam of Darts, although he was a last 16 loser in both events.
He reached the quarter-finals of the German Darts Championship before Ronnie Baxter defeated him at the last 32 stage in the 2009 World Championship.
However, a semi-final in Germany would be his best PDC Pro Tour run in the first half of the year, and Tabern ended his UK Open hopes in the last 64.
Ovens bounced back from missing out in the Desert Classic's qualifiers to overcome Priestley in the World Matchplay's first round, only going down 14-12 to Terry Jenkins in the last 16 following a spirited display.
| Name: | Denis Ovens |
| Nickname: | The Heat |
| Date of Birth: | 1/7/1957 |
| Place of Birth: | Enfield |
| Current Home Town: | Stevenage, Herts |
| Darts Used: | 20g LaserDarts |
PDC Tournament Wins
Irish Masters 2001, 2002
Claims Solutions Classic 2001,
Jersey Darts Festival 2001
Eastbourne Open 2005
UK Open Southern Regional Final 2005
Ireland Open Classic 2007
