Swedish darts legend Stefan Lord passes away aged 71

Swedish darts legend and two-time News of the World champion Stefan Lord has passed away at the age of 71.

Born in Stockholm, Lord was widely regarded as one of the most successful Swedish competitors of his era. Competing primarily under the British Darts Organisation (BDO) umbrella, Lord established an impressive international reputation during the 1970s and 1980s, helping demonstrate that elite darts talent extended beyond Britain. His professional career with the BDO spanned 1974-1991.

Lord developed an interest in darts as a teenager after discovering the game at a local café. He travelled to England in 1972 to compete against stronger opposition and subsequently began making his mark on the international circuit. One of his early significant successes came in 1975, when he won the Santa Monica Open in the United States.

His greatest achievements included two victories in the prestigious News of the World Darts Championship, in 1978 and 1980. These triumphs made him the first overseas player to win the tournament and remain among the defining accomplishments of his career. In 1980, he also won the WDF Europe Cup pairs title with Swedish teammate Bjørn Enqvist, repeating the achievement in 1982. Lord continued to enjoy success internationally, winning the Denmark Open in 1977 and the Swedish Open in 1983.

At the BDO World Darts Championship, Lord reached the semi-finals in both 1978 and 1982. His 1982 campaign was particularly memorable, as he defeated English favourite Bobby George before eventually losing to Scotland’s Jocky Wilson. He also reached the semi-finals of the Winmau World Masters in 1981 and finished runner-up at the 1983 North American Open.

Although Lord never won the BDO World Championship, his consistency at major tournaments and his success against leading players secured his place among Sweden’s pioneering darts stars. His international achievements helped raise the profile of Swedish darts during a period when British players dominated the professional scene.

Lord left the BDO in 1991. His legacy rests on his major tournament victories, sustained international competitiveness and historic contribution to the development of Scandinavian darts.

John Lowe posted the following tribute on social media on Thursday: ‘My good friend for many years Stefan Lord, passed away yesterday, he was a Swedish pioneer for the sport of darts, probably the most well know player in the country, winner of the News of the World twice, 1980 and 1982.

‘We always had plenty to talk about when we met, which was in many countries around the world, Stefan made his final home in Pattaya Thailand. Thanks for the many memories Stefan, your friend John.’