Edward “Ted” Hankey, born February 20, 1968, in Stoke-on-Trent, England—the same hometown as darts legend Phil Taylor—began his professional darts career with the BDO in the mid-1990s. He first gained attention by winning the Malta Open in 1995 and defending the title the following year. His steady rise in the rankings culminated in his BDO World Championship debut in 1998 at Lakeside, where he impressed audiences with a commanding 3-0 win over Wayne Weening and the only 100+ average of the week. Known for his Dracula-inspired stage persona, complete with a black cape and mask giveaways, Hankey quickly became a fan favorite.
Despite a disappointing second-round exit in 1999, Hankey bounced back in 2000, capturing his first World Championship title. Entering the tournament as the fifth seed, he showcased his skill with a stunning semifinal comeback over Chris Mason, hitting 22 maximum 180s, before sweeping Ronnie Baxter 6-0 in the final—a record-shortest final to date, capped by a perfect 170 checkout. He reached the final again in 2001 but lost to John Walton.
Though Hankey never surpassed the quarterfinals in World Championships for several years afterward, he continued to collect international titles. Many believed his peak had passed until 2009, when he recaptured glory at Lakeside. That year, Hankey defeated several top players, including Martin Adams in the semifinals, before edging Tony O’Shea 7-6 in a thrilling final to claim his second and final world title.
In 2012, Hankey transitioned to the rival PDC after a semifinal loss at Lakeside to Christian Kist. Unfortunately, his time in the PDC was marred by health issues—he suffered a minor stroke during the 2012 Grand Slam of Darts—and he struggled to replicate his earlier success. After losing his PDC Tour Card in 2013, Hankey returned to the BDO but never regained his former form. By 2016, he bowed out of the World Championship in the first round. A fear of flying also limited his participation in overseas events.
Related News
Off the board, Hankey faced personal challenges, including bankruptcy in 2017. In 2021, his career took a devastating turn when he was arrested and charged with sexual assault following an incident caught on camera. Initially denying the allegations, Hankey later pleaded guilty in court. In May 2022, he was sentenced to two years in prison and placed on the sexual assault register for ten years.
At the time of his arrest, Hankey had withdrawn from the World Seniors tournament amid personal issues, halting what could have been a significant comeback. He also gained viral attention online for a bizarre video referencing “who’s in charge, me or the devil,” where he described a dramatic checkout route.
After serving part of his sentence, Hankey was granted early release in early 2023. Since then, he has remained out of the public eye, and any return to major darts competition appears unlikely.
