Chris Mason

Christopher John Mason (born 17 December 1969) is an English former professional darts player who competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and British Darts Organisation (BDO) events. Nicknamed Mace the Ace, Mason reached back to back semi-finals of the BDO World Championship in 1999 and 2000. He also reached the semi-finals at the 2000 Winmau World Masters and the PDC's 1998 World Matchplay.

BDO and first PDC spell Mason began his career in the British Darts Organisation, making his World Championship debut at the 1996 BDO World Championship. He lost 0–3 to Andy Fordham. After joining the World Darts Council in 1996, Mason competed in the 1996 World Matchplay, losing to Alan Warriner. In October 1996, Mason reached the final of the Sky Sports World Pairs partnered by Steve Raw, where they were narrowly beaten by Phil Taylor and Bob Anderson. Mason then competed in the 1997 WDC World Championship, where he lost 1–3 to Gerald Verrier and 0–3 to Taylor in the group stage.

Shortly after the BDO and PDC agreed the Tomlin Order in June 1997, some BDO players participated in the World Matchplay event between 1997 and 2001, and in the World Grand Prix event between 1998 and 2001. Mason went back to playing in the BDO World Championship after the Tomlin Order, but continued to play in other PDC televised majors outside of their World Championship. After a second round defeat in the BDO world championships in 1998, he went on to reach the semi-finals of the 1998 World Matchplay, narrowly losing 11–13 to Ronnie Baxter. The following year, Mason reached the quarter-finals of the 1999 World Matchplay, losing 11–16 to Taylor. Mason also reached the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix events in 1999 and 2000, losing to Peter Manley and Taylor respectively.

Mason enjoyed his best achievement in the 1999 BDO World Championship, when he recovered from 1–4 down in sets in his best-of-nine quarter-final match against Martin Adams, survived many match darts against him before eventually winning 5–4 in sets, winning by 6–4 in legs in the deciding set. This match is regarded as one of the best matches on television, and it included 29 180s between the players; 13 for Mason and 16 for Adams. He lost the semi-final 2–5 to reigning BDO World Champion, Raymond van Barneveld, three of those sets on deciding legs.

Mason avenged the defeat to van Barneveld the following year by beating van Barneveld 3–1 in the first round, averaging over 100. Mason also beat Fordham in the quarter-finals before losing 4–5 to Ted Hankey in the semi-finals, after leading 4–2. This match holds the 180 record for a 9 set match with 38 180's hit in the match, 16 of them from Mason, marking the second consecutive year that he had lost to the eventual champion in the semi-finals.

Mason's last appearance at Lakeside was a first round defeat to Mervyn King in 2001. He also reached the semi-final of the BDO's other major tournament, the Winmau World Masters in 2000, losing to the eventual champion, John Walton.

Mason hit a nine dart finish in the last 64 stage of the 1999 Winmau World Masters. Mason has recently hinted that he may get back into darts but it would be a very professional job stating that he would begin to give 100% as he claimed he only gave 70% during his career.

Out of retirement In January 2012, he entered the Professional Darts Corporation Pro Tour 'Q School' qualifying tournament but failed to win a PDC Tour Card. He re-attempted to obtain a PDC Tour Card in January 2014, however he was not successful.

Mason competed in both the 2023 World Seniors Darts Championship and the 2024 World Seniors Darts Championship. He was knocked out in the first round and quarter-finals respectively.

In February 2025, he announced his ultimate retirement from the sport after the 2025 World Seniors Darts Championship.

Controversy Mason's personal life has been under much scrutiny. Mason was convicted of assault and assault with intent to resist arrest in March 1990 and sentenced to 180 hours community service. This was followed by a three-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months for actual bodily harm and, in August 1993, by three years' probation for assault causing actual bodily harm.

Prison sentence On 14 April 2003, Mason and two friends Mark and Simon Gibson, were found guilty of aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The victim of the attack, Poole scaffolder Neal Harley, was left with a broken nose, scalp cuts, facial swelling and bruising. The attack was sparked by a Yorkshire terrier dog named Doris which Mark Gibson had bought for Harley's fiancée Jane Graham while they were having a relationship some years earlier and had been "hostile" towards her new boyfriends. On 3 April 2002, Ms Graham had agreed to care for the dog but later returned it as it behaved too aggressively. Prosecutor, Mark Worsley, said that because of this Mark Gibson decided to confront Mr Harley and turned up that night with a hammer and his accomplices, saying: "Come on boys, let's do him". The Gibson brothers received five- and six-year sentences and Mason received a three-year sentence on 2 June 2003, but he served just over a year.

2007 World championship Mason hit the headlines for criticising Phil Taylor in the newspapers before their last 16 match at the 2007 World Championship and allegedly swearing at him during the post-match handshake on-stage after Taylor beat him 4–0. He did apologise to Taylor after the tournament ended, but received a £750 fine and a four-month ban (suspended for 12 months) from the Darts Regulation Authority.

Benefit fraud In June 2010, he was given a community order at Newcastle Magistrates Court for benefit fraud charges after he admitted to not declaring £45,000 of winnings between 2006 and 2007 while claiming benefits. He had been arrested whilst preparing to compete at the UK Open televised tournament.

Television pundit In 2007, Mason became one of ITV's pundits on the inaugural Grand Slam of Darts, initially alongside the 1996 BDO World Champion, Steve Beaton, but since then by the 2001 World Grand Prix champion and 1993 World Championship runner-up, Alan Warriner-Little. It was ITV's return to broadcasting tournament darts after an absence of over a decade. Mason has remained a feature of ITV's darts coverage as a match summariser and co-commentator during ITV's coverage of the Grand Slam of Darts up to 2010, the European Championship, the Players Championship Finals, The Masters, as well as the UK Opens from 2014 onwards.

Personal life Mason took the decision to move from Kilkenny, Ireland to Stoke-on-Trent late in 2006. A few top players had made Stoke their home and Mason made the move partly so he could practice with Andy Hamilton. However, shortly after the World Championship Hamilton switched to practising with Taylor – who broke off from mentoring Adrian Lewis.

Mason is a supporter of football club Chelsea F.C.

World Championship performances BDO 1996: First round (lost to Andy Fordham 0–3) 1998: Second round (lost to Peter Johnstone 0–3) 1999: Semi-finals (lost to Raymond van Barneveld 2–5) 2000: Semi-finals (lost to Ted Hankey 4–5) 2001: First round (lost to Mervyn King 2–3)

PDC 1997: Group Stage (lost to Gerald Verrier 1–3) & (lost to Phil Taylor 0–3) 2002: First round (lost to Dave Askew 3–4) 2003: Quarter-finals (lost to John Part 0–5) 2005: Third round (lost to Colin Lloyd 3–4) 2006: Second round (lost to John Part 3–4) 2007: Third round (lost to Phil Taylor 0–4) 2008: Second round (lost to Kevin Painter 0–4) 2009: First round (lost to John Magowan 0–3)

WSDT 2023: First round (lost to Terry Jenkins 2–3) 2024: Quarter-finals (lost to Lisa Ashton 1–3) 2025: Second round (lost to John Henderson 2–3)

Performance timeline BDO

PDC