Darts villain Peter Manley has revealed the four-word sledge that prompted Adrian Lewis to storm off the stage.
The infamous incident in question took place during the quarter-finals of the 2006 PDC World Championships at the Circus Tavern.
Lewis, aged 20 at the time, was one of the hottest prospects in the sport and had plenty of eyeballs on him in what was his inaugural showing at darts’ showpiece tournament.
As for Manley, he was an established star having made two world championship finals and was a former world number one.
However, the man dubbed ‘One Dart’ had also developed a reputation as somewhat of a villain thanks to his mind games and antics, one of which came in 2002 when he refused to shake Phil Taylor‘s hand after a loss.
With Manley’s villainous background, it ensured Lewis would be in for a baptism of fire in his world championship debut.
There was plenty of expectation on Lewis’ shoulders, especially since Manley claimed broadcasters Sky had constantly talked up a final between the young prodigy and Phil Taylor, who had 12 world championships to his name prior to the tournament.
“The great thing is, when you hear things like that continuously, it gets in your head,” Manley said on the latest episode of talkBULL.
“First thing I wanted to do was stop that.”
Manley looked like he was well on his way to doing just that as he was up three sets to one in the first-to-five contest.
It seemed Manley’s dominance appeared to crack Lewis’ exterior, as the former accused his rival of making noises during his throw.
“If you looked at that game right the way through, you can see that I’m absolutely beating him, there’s no problem with it whatsoever,” Manley said.
Sky SportsLewis and Manley had an intense back-and-forth during their game[/caption]
“But he’ll deny it, because he did. I turned around and said, ‘You’re tutting behind me as I’m throwing.’ He said, ‘No, I’m not.’ I said, ‘Yes, you are.’ It was just like a pantomime.”
Lewis soon complained to referee Russ Bray about Manley’s remarks but showed enough composure to hit double-20 to take a 2-1 lead in the fifth set.
What happened next was a moment that became centred in darts folklore.
“He won the leg, he went back to the table and came back to the oche to throw,” Manley said.
“I just turned around and said, ‘You’re having a laugh,’ because he was just messing about, he was like a pantomime. That’s all I said.
“The next thing, he walked off.”
Sky SportsManley’s four-word quip prompted Lewis to storm off stage in unprecedented scenes[/caption]
Lewis eventually returned to the oche but could not hold up his end of the bargain for Sky’s dream final as Manley prevailed 5-3.
Manley made it all the way to the final but was thrashed 7-0 by Taylor as the legend won his 13th world title.
Despite finishing runner-up for a third time at the World Championships, Manley revealed how the incident with Lewis more than made up for the agony of defeat.
“Do you know what, I must have earned £30,000 or £40,000 pounds from that,” Manley said.
“People loved it, they wanted to book me for exhibitions up and down the country. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
“Being hated already from not shaking Taylor’s hand a few years before that and getting booed everywhere I go, I suddenly realised how much money there is to be made as the most hated player.”
Luckily for Lewis, his career would not be defined to that incident as he went on to become a two-time World Champion.
The man known as ‘Jackpot’ may look to win a third as he continues his comeback following his hiatus from the sport.
Lewis confirmed he would step away from the oche in April 2023 to help take care of his ill wife.
But the 40-year-old is set to return to action at the MODUS Super Series in May.
