FORMER World No.4 Jamie ‘Bravedart’ Harvey has passed away at the age of 70.
The larger-than-life star was one of the founding players of the World Darts Council – which later became the PDC – and reached the semi-finals of the 1995/96 World Championship in one of 13 successive Circus Tavern appearances.
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Harvey was also a World Matchplay semi-finalist in 1996 in one of a dozen challenges at the Winter Gardens, while he also played in the World Grand Prix, UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic during his career.
James Harvey, Jamie’s son, announced that he “passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all his loved ones”.
His only PDC ranked title came at the 2000 Antwerp Open, where he defeated Roland Scholten in the final, while he was on the receiving end of a nine-darter from Phil Taylor at the 2008 UK Open in what proved to be his final televised match before retiring the following year.
Harvey had initially broken through at the 1983 World Masters event, and played in the BDO World Championship twice before the WDC’s breakaway in 1993.
He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010, had a 10-hour op to save his life, then underwent chemo and radiotherapy. He also had his voicebox removed and had a permanent laryngectomy stoma fitted to enable him to speak. In all, he lost four stone during the extensive treatment.
But he lived up to the Bravedart nickname by being determined to continue with the arrows for his Ayrshire county team to show cancer sufferers that life can go on.
Harvey famously fell down a hole on the stage in one of the funniest moments in darts history – but he denied it ever happened!
He said: “It was a World Pairs match, Keith Deller and I v Bob Anderson and Phil Taylor.
“I didn’t fall off the stage. Sky Sports had a flowerpot in front of a hole on the stage.
“During a TV break we stayed on stage to practise but didn’t see Sky remove the flowerpot. I stepped back and fell down the hole.
“Bob said I’d fallen down on purpose to win as it put him and Phil off — they were p****** themselves!”
The PDC led the tributes after the sad news of Harvey’s passing emerged, with the organisation sending its condolences.
Several other darts stars also paid tributes of their own.
Two-time world champion Dennis Priestley said: “So sad to hear about the passing of Jamie “Bravedart” Harvey.
“Jamie was a great bloke and it was my pleasure to share an oche and many beers with him down the years.
“I will remember his renditions of My Way fondly! One of the founding fathers of the PDC, his legacy lives on.”
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Former world number one Alan Warriner-Little said: “Sad Day. RIP Jamie Harvey, myself, Eric (Bristow) and Mace (Chris Mason) spent a lot of time together back in the day, usually in the bars around the world it has to be said.
“Will miss you Pal.”
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