7-Ronnie Baxter

Last updated: 14th December 2009

Baxter: Rocket man

Date of birth: 02.05.61
Home town: Blackpool
Nickname: Rocket
Major titles: None
World Championship best: Runner-up (twice)
Walk-on music: Don't Stop Me Now

Back in the top 10 in the Order of Merit, Baxter has looked back to something approaching his best at times this year though can still be maddeningly inconsistent.

After three straight first-round exits in the worlds, he made it through to the third round this time last year and pushed eventual runner-up Raymond van Barneveld all the way before crashing out in a sudden-death thriller.

He produced another eye-catching weekend by reaching the semi-finals of the UK Open and then inflicted only Phil Taylor's second Players' Championship loss of the year as he took the �6,000 first prize on offer in Las Vegas.

But just a day later his inconsistency was to the fore as he exited the Desert Classic in the first round.

Twice a runner-up at the BDO World Championship at the Lakeside (once after a final lasting just 46 minutes), Baxter switched to the PDC in 2002.

Without a major title to his name at the age of 48, he has twice reached the semis of the World Matchplay, while he was also runner-up at the Desert Classic in 2002.