The 1997 Red Band World Darts Championship was held between 29 December 1996–5 January 1997 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex. It was the fourth World Championship organised by the World Darts Council, which had acrimoniously split from the British Darts Organisation in 1992–93. As a result of an ongoing legal battle, this would be the last time that the WDC name would be used – an out-of-court settlement (Tomlin Order) in June 1997 meant that the organisation had to change its name to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
Paul Lim, who famously hit a nine dart finish at the 1990 Embassy Championship appeared at his first WDC World Championship – he had only managed to qualify once for the Embassy since the split, losing a second round match to John Part in 1994.
The Championship saw two tight semi-finals, the most memorable of which was the clash between mentor and protégé – Eric Bristow and Phil Taylor. Taylor emerged victorious 5–4 in sets to reach the final. He matched his mentor's feat of five World Championship titles when he beat Dennis Priestley in the final.[1] They were now level as the most successful players of all-time.
Prize money
The prize fund was £98,000.
- Champion: £45,000
- Runner-up: £10,000
- 3rd Place: £1,000
- Semi-Finalists (2): £4,000
- Quarter-Finalists (4): £3,000
- Group RU (8): £1,500
- Group 3rd (8): £1,250
