Mark Holden was one of darts’ most
recognisable characters during his brief stint
as a top PDC professional, but after falling off
the radar amid dartitis and health problems just where is he now?
“I have loads of good memories of my time on the
PDC tour. I had some great games playing live on
Sky and generated a good following with my style of
playing, especially in the USA,” he added.
Famous for his outcries of “boosh” upon hitting the
double, Holden acquired a loyal band of followers
both on home soil and overseas - enjoying a debut at
the 2005 Las Vegas Desert Classic and reaching the
last 32 of the US Open in his final year.
After losing in straight sets to Northern Ireland’s Colin
McGarry at the Circus Tavern in 2004 a disillusioned
Holden threw his darts away and took a nine-month
sabbatical from the sport.
He turned his attention to business, managing a pub
named the ‘Apple and Pear’ in Middleton - and on
a fateful night when his resident darts team was a
man short, Holden stepped in.
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Comprising one half of the fearsome ‘bruise brothers’
alongside fellow Lancastrian Paul Whitworth, Holden
became a feared opponent both on and off the oche.
A victory that night encouraged him to return to the
local open tournament scene, where his confidence
and form was to return.
His best run in a televised major saw him reach the
Quarter-Finals of the 2002 World Grand Prix, while
knocking
youthful
debutant
James
Wade out of the 2005
World Championship
on his return to
action.
“I won a few small competitions in the local area,
and after that, I didn’t look back,” he continued.
“I was affected with a mild dose of
dartitis and I did loads of reading
up on it and spent a considerable
amount of money trying to beat it”
However,
after
multiple
battles
against traces of dartitis, Holden’s game began to
suffer, and results away from the big stage began to
desert him.
The ‘Top Banana’s’ fall from grace was rapid, and
after failing to qualify for the World Championship
at the Circus Tavern in consecutive years from
2006-2007, with the subsequent financial pressures,
Holden called time on his professional career.
But darts still runs deep in the Manchester thrower’s
veins, and he can still be found toeing the oche in
local competitions to this day.
“I’m still involved in darts locally and have enjoyed
much success over the last few years in leagues and
knock-outs competitions,” said Holden.
“I loved my time on the circuit. I made many friends
and gained tremendous experience playing great
players, which in-turn made me a better player.
“So I thought I’d
give it a go at the
PDPA qualifiers after
putting the practice
in, I got through to
play at the Circus
Tavern again.”
Holden met an introverted young left-hander from
Aldershot in round one - a 22-year-old by the name
of James Wade.
Backed by a wealth of vocal support in the crowd,
Holden roared to a straight sets victory