Mickey Mansell

Michael Mansell (born 31 August 1973) is a Northern Irish darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.

Mickey Mansell
Mansell at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts
Personal information
Full name	Michael Mansell
Nickname	"Clonoe Cyclone"
Born	(1973-08-31) 31 August 1973 (age 51) Dungannon, Northern Ireland
Home town	Clonoe, Northern Ireland
Darts information
Playing darts since	1993
Darts	25g Cosmo
Laterality	Left-handed
Walk-on music	"Maniac 2000" by Mark McCabe
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO	2006–2010
PDC	2010– (Tour Card: 2011-)
Current world ranking	56 1 (31 October 2024)[1]
WDF major events – best performances
World Masters	Last 128: 2006
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'ship	Last 64: 2013, 2015, 2021, 2023, 2024
World Grand Prix	Last 16: 2014
UK Open	Last 32: 2013, 2019
Grand Slam	Quarter-finals: 2024
PC Finals	Last 32: 2017
Other tournament wins
Ireland Autumn Classic 2009 Tom Kirby Memorial Trophy 2010 Players Championships Players Championship (BAR) 2018

Mansell is a left handed player who throws his darts in a looping motion.

Career

In October 2010, Mansell reached the semi-finals of a Players Championship in Dublin.^[2] A week later, he qualified for the 2011 PDC World Darts Championship after defeating Stephen Byrne to win the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay.^[3] He was beaten 0–4 in the preliminary round by New Zealand's Preston Ridd.

Mansell qualified for the 2011 PDC Pro Tour as one of four semi-finalists from the third day of the Pro Tour's Q School.^[4]

On 2 May 2011, Mansell won his place in the UK Open in June. He finished inside the top 96 after the 8 UK Open qualifiers were held.^[5] At the tournament he lost in the last 64 to James Wade 2–9.^[6]

He represented Northern Ireland with Brendan Dolan in the 2012 PDC World Cup of Darts and together they reached the quarter-finals, where they were defeated by the Netherlands 0–4, having beaten Denmark in the second round.^[7] Mansell had a good season in the new European Tour events by qualifying for three of the five tournaments.^[8] He lost in the last 32 of the European Darts Open, and in the last 16 of both the German Darts Championship (beat Jamie Caven and Dean Winstanley, before losing to Wes Newton) and the German Darts Masters (beat Mervyn King and Paul Nicholson, before losing to Adrian Lewis).^[9][10] Mansell played in his first World Grand Prix in October as he was one of the two Irish qualifiers. He was beaten by Paul Nicholson 0–2 in sets, averaging just 64.48 in the event where a double must be hit to start and end every leg.^[11]

Mansell qualified for the 2013 World Championship by taking the 14th place of the 16 that were available through the ProTour Order of Merit for the highest non-qualified players.^[12] In his second World Championship he lost to 15-time winner Phil Taylor 0–3 in the first round, as Mansell won only one leg during the match and averaged 78.46.^[13] Mansell was ranked world number 51 after the tournament.^[14] In his second World Cup of Darts with Brendan Dolan the pair were beaten 4–5 in the last 16 by the Croatian duo of Robert Marijanović and Tonči Restović.^[15] Mansell reached the quarter-finals of a PDC event for the first time since October 2010 in May at the third Players Championship, but lost 4–6 to Paul Nicholson.^[16] Mansell beat Co Stompé and Conan Whitehead to face Michael van Gerwen in the fourth round of the UK Open, which he lost 3–9.^[17] Mansell was again a qualifier for the World Grand Prix and had a superb opportunity to achieve the biggest win of his career to date as he had three match darts against world number four Simon Whitlock in the deciding leg of the final set but missed them all.^[18] Mansell later revealed how this match impacted his darts for the subsequent year ahead as every time he played it was on his mind.^[19] At the Dutch Darts Masters he beat Tonči Restović and Gino Vos, before losing 6–4 to Kim Huybrechts in the third round.^[20]

Mansell beat Ben Burton and Dean Stewart to reach the third round of the 2014 UK Open but there lost 9–1 to James Wade.^[21] In June, Mansell and Dolan beat Peter Wright and Robert Thornton from Scotland in the quarter-finals of the World Cup of Darts. In the semis, Dolan edged world number one Michael van Gerwen 4–3, but Mansell lost 4–0 to Van Barneveld to send the match into a deciding doubles game in which the Dutch pair averaged an incredible 117.88 to progress with a 4–0 whitewash.^[22] He won his first match at the World Grand Prix in three attempts by eliminating Ian White 2–0 (sets).^[19] Mansell then met Gary Anderson in the second round and won the first set, but was ultimately beaten 3–1 after losing nine successive legs.^[23]

Mansell suffered a 3–0 loss to Kim Huybrechts in the first round of the 2015 World Championship.^[24] Mansell and Dolan met the Netherlands' Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld for the second successive year at the World Cup, this time in the quarter-finals. Dolan lost 4–2 to Van Gerwen, but Mansell defeated Van Barneveld 4–3 meaning a doubles match was required and, just like last year, Northern Ireland were thrashed 4–0.^[25] Mansell qualified for four European Tour events and was knocked out in the second round in all of them.^[26]

Mansell's four World Cup appearances in a row ended in 2016 after Daryl Gurney overtook him as Northern Ireland's second highest player on the Order of Merit, behind Brendan Dolan.^[27] Three last 32 and three last 16 exits saw him qualify for the expanded Players Championship Finals and he lost 6–3 to Kim Huybrechts in the first round.^[28] Mansell dropped out of the top 64 during 2016 and so played in 2017 Q School, where he finished sixth on the Order of Merit to reclaim his PDC place.^[29]

Mansell lost his Tour card after season 2021, battling with injuries during that year. Immediately he regained his Tour card in PDC UK Q-School 2022 via UK Q-School Order of Merit, where he placed on 11th place with 6 points.^[30]

In the opening 2024 PDC Players Championship series event of 2024, Mansell defeated Josh Payne 6–2 in legs. In his second round match against Krzysztof Ratajski, Mansell hit a nine-dart finish, en route to another 6–2 victory. In the third round he defeated Daryl Gurney 6–5. In the last 16, Nick Kenny beat Mansell 6–5.

In the 2024 PDC World Championship, Mansell faced fellow Northern Ireland player and his close friend Brendan Dolan. It was arguably the best game of the second round but unfortunately for Mansell, Dolan prevailed as the 3-2 victor.

World Championship results

PDC

• 2011: Preliminary round (lost to Preston Ridd 0–4) (legs)
• 2013: First round (lost to Phil Taylor 0–3)
• 2015: First round (lost to Kim Huybrechts 0–3)
• 2019: First round (lost to Jim Long 1–3)
• 2020: First round (lost to Seigo Asada 0–3)
• 2021: Second round (lost to Ricky Evans 1–3)
• 2023: Second round (lost to Peter Wright 0–3)
• 2024: Second round (lost to Brendan Dolan 2–3)

Performance timeline

Tournament	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
PDC World Championship	Non-PDC					PR	DNQ	1R	DNQ	1R	DNQ			1R	1R	2R	DNQ	2R	2R
UK Open	Non-PDC					3R	3R	4R	3R	DNQ			1R	5R	3R	3R	1R	3R	4R
World Grand Prix	Non-PDC					DNQ	1R	1R	2R	Did not qualify
Grand Slam of Darts	Did not qualify
Players Championship Finals	Non-PDC				DNQ						1R	2R	1R	1R	1R	DNQ	1R	1R	DNQ
Non-ranked televised events
PDC World Cup of Darts	NH						QF	2R	SF	QF	DNP
BDO Ranked televised events
Winmau World Masters	2R	DNP	1R	DNP	1R	PDC									NH		PDC
Career statistics
Year-end ranking	-	-	-	269	149	90	57	44	42	50	62	95	63	58	54	69	77	56

PDC European Tour

Season	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
2012	ADO DNQ	GDC 3R	EDO 2R	GDM 3R	DDM DNQ
2013	UKM DNQ	EDT DNQ	EDO DNP	ADO DNQ	GDT 1R	GDC DNQ	GDM 1R	DDM 3R
2014	GDC DNQ	DDM QF	GDM 1R	ADO DNQ	GDT DNQ	EDO DNQ	EDG DNQ	EDT 1R
2015	GDC DNQ	GDT DNQ	GDM 2R	DDM DNQ	IDO 2R	EDO DNQ	EDT DNQ	EDM 2R	EDG 2R
2016	DDM DNP	GDM DNP	GDT DNQ	EDM DNQ	ADO DNQ	EDO DNQ	IDO DNQ	EDT DNQ	EDG DNQ	GDC 1R
2017	GDC DNQ	GDM DNQ	GDO DNQ	EDG DNQ	GDT DNQ	EDM 1R	ADO DNQ	EDO DNQ	DDM DNQ	GDG 1R	IDO DNQ	EDT DNQ
2018	EDO DNQ	GDG DNQ	GDO DNP	ADO DNP	EDG DNQ	DDM DNQ	GDT DNQ	DDO 1R	EDM DNQ	GDC DNQ	DDC DNQ	IDO 2R	EDT 2R
2019	EDO DNQ	GDC 1R	GDG DNQ	GDO 2R	ADO DNQ	EDG DNQ	DDM 2R	DDO DNQ	CDO DNQ	ADC DNQ	EDM DNQ	IDO 1R	GDT DNQ
2020	BDC DNQ	GDC DNQ	EDG DNQ	IDO DNQ
2021	HDT DNQ	GDT DNQ
2022	IDO DNQ	GDC DNQ	GDG DNQ	ADO DNQ	EDO 1R	CDO 3R	EDG 2R	DDC 2R	EDM DNQ	HDT DNQ	GDO DNQ	BDO DNQ	GDT DNQ
2023	BSD DNQ	EDO DNQ	IDO DNQ	GDG DNQ	ADO 3R	DDC DNQ	BDO DNQ	CDO DNQ	EDG DNQ	EDM 2R	GDO 1R	HDT DNQ	GDC 1R
2024	BDO DNQ	GDG DNQ	IDO DNQ	EDG 2R	ADO DNQ	BSD DNQ	DDC 2R	EDO DNQ	GDC 2R	FDT DNQ	HDT DNQ	SDT DNQ	CDO DNQ

PDC Players Championships

Season	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
2024	WIG 4R	WIG 1R	LEI 1R	LEI 3R	HIL 1R	HIL 1R	LEI 3R	LEI 1R	HIL 2R	HIL 1R	HIL 1R	HIL 1R	MIL 1R	MIL 1R	MIL 1R	MIL 1R	MIL 1R	MIL 3R	MIL 2R	WIG 1R	WIG 2R	MIL 3R	MIL 2R	WIG 1R	WIG 2R	WIG 1R	WIG 2R	WIG 4R	LEI 2R	LEI 2R

Performance Table Legend
W	Won the tournament	F	Finalist	SF	Semifinalist	QF	Quarterfinalist	#R RR L#	Lost in # round Round-robin Last # stage	DQ	Disqualified
DNQ	Did not qualify	DNP	Did not participate	WD	Withdrew	NH	Tournament not held			NYF	Not yet founded

References

1. "PDC Order of Merit". PDPA. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
2. Caven's Dublin Delight Archived 6 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine PDC.tv
3. Mansell Seals Irish Matchplay Win Archived 19 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine PDC.tv
4. Qualifying School Day Three Archived 18 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine PDC.tv
5. Archived 4 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine PDC.tv
6. "2011 UK Open Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
7. "Cash Converters World Cup Quarter-Finals Round-Up". PDC. 5 February 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
8. "Michael Mansell 2012". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
9. "2012 PDC German Darts Championship Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
10. "2012 PDC German Darts Masters Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
11. "PartyPoker.com WGP – Tuesday". PDC. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
12. "2013 PDC World Championship Qualifiers". Darts Database. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
13. "Ladbrokes WDC Day Two". PDC. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
14. "Order of Merit on 1 January 2013". PDC. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
15. "Betfair World Cup of Darts – Last 16". PDC. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
16. "Brilliant Caven Triumphs in Wigan". PDC. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
17. "Speedy Services UK Open – Fourth Round". PDC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
18. "partypoker.com World Grand Prix Day One". PDC. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
19. "partypoker.com WGP Day One". PDC. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
20. "2013 PDC Dutch Darts Masters Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
21. "2014 UK Open Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
22. "bwin World Cup Glory For Dutch". PDC. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
23. "partypoker.com WGP Day Three". PDC. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
24. "William Hill World Championship Day Four". PDC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
25. "bwin World Cup of Darts Quarter-Finals". PDC. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
26. "Michael Mansell 2015". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 3 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
27. "2016 PDC World Cup of Darts Qualifiers". Darts Database. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
28. "Michael Mansell 2016". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
29. "2017 PDC Qualifying School Day Four". PDC. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
30. "John O'Shea among five Irish players to win PDC tour cards". RTE. Retrieved 21 January 2022.

External links

• Mickey Mansell player profile at Darts Orakel