Owen Bates had to ditch his nickname after the Professional Darts Corporation deemed it too rude for the World Darts Championship
11:00, 18 Dec 2025
Owen Bates in action(Image: Getty)
World Darts Championship (WDC) ace Owen Bates saw his nickname banned after officials deemed it too crude for the Professional Darts Corporation. The rising talent launches his WDC journey with a clash against Ryan Joyce on Thursday’s afternoon session and will be eager to make a deep run in the competition.
The prohibition emerged following his qualification for the 2023 WDC, with the PDC refusing to accept Bates using ‘The Master’ as his calling card. Naturally, when announcer John McDonald would theoretically call out his complete identity, the final two words would form ‘Master Bates’.
He was compelled to abandon this moniker for clear reasons and subsequently crashed out in round one to Steve Lennon. talkSPORT host and ex-footballer Ally McCoist managed to find humour in the situation and was left in hysterics on air.
Owen Bates was forced to play without his nickname(Image: Getty)
“He’s got to keep it,” said McCoist. “Come on! He’s keeping it. It’s the best nickname. I love it man, it’s hilarious.”
The thrower was obliged to seek public assistance in discovering a fresh alias. A survey run by The Sun generated numerous fresh proposals, though many of the leading options were equally inappropriate, reports the Express.
“I remember when I first started, we had only thought of master as a joke,” Bates told the Weekly Dartscast. “It was something that was fortunate, personally, and it was just as a joke. That’s what it’s all about, really.
Watch the World Darts Championship on Sky Sports
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£35
Sky
Get Sky Sports here
The PDC World Darts Championship gets underway on December 11 and fans can watch every match exclusively live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
“I was listening to talkSPORT and my name was mentioned. And how I reacted to it… I just remember it being all over Twitter and all over Facebook. It was only a bit of a terrible feeling, but it was all fun.
“The whole master thing was a great laugh, to be fair,” Bates revealed on the Double Top Dart Shop YouTube channel.
“It started out as a bit of a laugh and a bit of fun, which is the way it should be. When I picked it, I didn’t expect to get on TV.”
Owen Bates celebrates(Image: Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
When quizzed about whether it helped raise his profile, he responded: “Yeah, definitely, all publicity is good publicity! It was in the newspaper for a couple of days in a row and obviously there was a big thing on talkSPORT with Ally McCoist. That was a really funny time.”
Bates was then questioned whether the PDC will introduce him at the WDC as “just Owen Bates”, to which he answered: “Yeah, I guess so. For the last couple of years when I’ve played Euro tours that’s just what it’s been so it’s fine with me to be honest!”.
The 23 year old Englishman secured a PDC Tour Card last year after coming second in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit the previous season.
Owen Bates thinks the nickname was a good bit of fun(Image: Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Bates is a former World Youth Championship quarter-finalist and has progressed to the second round of the UK Open twice consecutively. He booked his spot at the WDC in October and came third in the Development Tour Order of Merit, whilst also securing another two years on the tour.
Hailing from Exeter, Bates was introduced to darts at the tender age of nine, inspired by his father who owned a dart board in their garage. His passion for the game grew as he accompanied his father to the local pub during the week, playing in pub leagues and honing his skills from a young age.
Littler Returns: World Darts Championship Preview 2026
Celebrate the festive season with this special edition previewing the World Darts Championship. Luke Littler became the youngest player to lift the title last year, and the teen is back to defend his crown at a sold-out Ally Pally – although he will be hunted down by rival Luke Humphries.
We hear from both players in a bumper preview which includes features on most of the leading contenders, interviews with Wayne Mardle, Emma Paton, John Part and Polly James, a look at the unknowns who will be in action plus an oche-full of other great content. Buy here
