From December 19, 2008...

Dutchman Co Stompé came from being down 2 sets to 1 against Phil Taylor to win the German Darts Championships 4-2. Was it a fluke, a freak of nature? Nope. It was brilliant darts in a final that saw both players’ averages over 107. 11 and 12-darters were the norm as were finishes of 164 and 167 to name but two, while T80’s flowed like beverages during Happy Hour at Tim’s, The TQ or Jamenson’s.

“In all honesty I never expected to win,” said Stompé afterwards. “We come into events trying to be ‘best of the rest’ and give Phil a run for his money. I’ve been European Champion and reached the semi-finals at Lakeside but this is the PDC. Beating Phil Taylor is the greatest moment of my life. Phil Taylor is the best darts player the planet has ever seen.”

Stompé may be correct but Taylor wasn’t the best at the German Championships. Co Stompé was and he has the £25,000 pounds and the trophy to prove it.

Co Stompé with Wayne Mardle

From Wikipedia

Jacobus `Co` Stompé (born September 10, 1962 in Amsterdam), is a Dutch professional darts player.

BDO Career

For years Stompé was considered the second best Dutch darts player behind Raymond van Barneveld. After reaching the semi-finals of the 2000 BDO World Darts Championship, he dropped back behind a younger emerging Dutch group of players. Stompé's recent record shows him making it to the first or second round of major championships, whereupon he acts as a commentator for the Dutch commercial television station SBS6.

Stompé is nicknamed The Matchstick because of his almost bald head and very thin appearance making him look like a Matchstick.

Before turning professional, Stompé was among other things a tram driver of tram line 14 in Amsterdam.

Stompé came back to fame with the defeat of reigning BDO champion Jelle Klaasen in Round 1 of the 2007 Lakeside World Darts Championship.

PDC Switch

On June 11, 2008 it was announced that Co had joined the Professional Darts Corporation circuit and had to join the PDC rankings at a lowly 227. He made his PDC debut in the two PDPA Players Championship tournaments in Bristol. The first tournament started with a bye into the last 64, due to Raymond van Barneveld not taking part. He lost to Matt Clark. The next day saw him beat Tony Ayres and Peter Manley before losing in the last 32 stage to Kirk Shepherd.

He then successfully qualified for the 2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic but lost in the first round to Dennis Priestley.

Stompé won the 2008 PDC German Darts Championship, beating Phil Taylor in the final. The win earns him a spot in the 2009 Grand Slam of Darts and also earned him a place in the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship qualifying through the Continental Europe Order of Merit. He originally qualified through Dutch broadcaster SBS6's wildcard place which then went to Remco van Eijden as a result. He defeated 2007 semi-finalist Andy Jenkins (24) in the first round. On December 27 he also defeated Alan Tabern, the ninth seed. Stompé's impressive form in the world championships continued with a 4-0 win over 8th seed Wayne Mardle in the third round. The win set up a quarter final encounter with world number one, Phil Taylor, losing 5-0.

Accomplishments

World Championship Records

* 1996 (BDO) - Last 32 lost to Steve Beaton 0-3 * 1998 (BDO) - Last 32 lost to Roland Scholten 2-3
* 1999 (BDO) - Last 16 lost to Roland Scholten 2-3
* 2000 (BDO) - Semi finalist lost to Ronnie Baxter 2-5
* 2001 (BDO) - Last 16 lost to Wayne Mardle 0-3
* 2002 (BDO) - Last 16 lost to Bob Taylor 2-3
* 2003 (BDO) - Last 32 lost to Martin Adams 1-3
* 2004 (BDO) - Last 32 lost to Robert Wagner 2-3
* 2005 (BDO) - Last 32 lost to Andre Brantjes 2-3
* 2006 (BDO) - Last 32 lost to Paul Hanvidge 1-3
* 2007 (BDO) - Last 16 lost to Martin Adams 1-4
* 2008 (BDO) - Last 16 lost to Brian Woods 2-4
* 2009 (PDC) - Quarter finalist lost to Phil Taylor 0-5

Outside Darts

Co Stompé is married to his second wife Danielle. He proposed to her on stage after winning the World Cup with the Netherlands.

Co Stompé's Professional Website

Visit Co Stompé's website at: www.CoStompe.com.

Editor's Note: It is my hope to interview Co Stompé - I have written his website in this regard and if you have any personal connections with Co Stompé to intervene on my behalf with regards to an interview for this website, I would be most grateful. Thank you and as always, shoot well and I'll see you at the line.