How it unfolded
After sixteen leading players, including Bristow, Lowe, Taylor and Priestley, split from the BDO to form the World Darts Council in 1992, they held their first world championship in January 1994 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex. The BDO had barred them from county and international competition and litigation was ongoing; the event was modest next to the BDO's Lakeside. The two finalists symbolised the split. Dennis Priestley had beaten Bristow 6-0 in the 1991 BDO final to become world champion on his first attempt, and Phil Taylor already held two BDO titles. Priestley won 6-1, making him the only player to have won the world championship of both organisations on his first attempt at each. His shirt, black with stars and a question mark, was itself a statement of what this new organisation was trying to sell.
Why it still matters
This event shaped the sport as it exists today. That championship went on to become the PDC World Championship, the Circus Tavern remained its home until 2007, and once Sky Sports and Barry Hearn got involved, prize money and viewership overtook the BDO entirely. This was the night that first proved the split had been the right bet.