Vandaag is het verdrietige nieuws tot ons gekomen dat mede-oprichter van de PDC, Tommy Cox, op woensdagochtend op 72-jarige leeftijd is overleden.
Als voormalig manager van de spelers heeft Tommy in 1993 met Dick Allix, John Markovic en 14 grote spelers de World Darts Council (nu PDC) opgericht.
Tommy kreeg de rol van toernooidirecteur, en heeft die positie 20 jaar vastgehouden. Tot 2015 zorgde hij ervoor dat alle PDC-toernooien en formats soepel verliepen.
In 2010 werd Tommy Cox toegevoegd aan de PDC Hall of Fame, samen met Allix. Dit om waardering te uiten over hun bijdrage aan de oprichting en het succes van de Professional Darts Corporation.
BARRY HEARN: "This is an extremely sad day for us all at the PDC, Tommy's contribution to our formation can never be under-stated and will never be forgotten.
He was known and respected throughout the sport and I know that he was proud of the worldwide growth of the PDC since he stood shoulder to shoulder with Dick and the players during darts' split.
I can honestly say that Tommy was one of the primary reasons why I got involved in darts. He encouraged me to get into the sport and it's something I'll never forget.
Although he had retired, Tommy was still involved in darts in recent years and will be sadly missed."
MARCUS ROBERTSON: "Tommy Cox was, more than any other individual, the founding father of the modern day PDC and the sport of darts.
His 100% belief that darts had a better future that could only be provided by the PDC has been proved by the last 25 years as the sport has grown across the globe.
At heart more than anything else Tommy was a true lover of the sport of darts and darts players. The current and future generations of Players are reaping the rewards that his tenacity and, he would admit, occasional sheer singleness of purpose, have created."
ROD HARRINGTON: "We were very close friends and it's a sad day.
The PDC wouldn't where it is today if it wasn't for Tommy. He was so strong - bombastic in a way - and such a great character and he believed in the cause, which made everyone else stay strong around him, including me.
He became a very close friend, especially during the split. We've had some good times over the years and we had a lot of respect for each other."
© Foto's: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)