Anastasia Dobromyslova: Russia's Darts Queen
Trina Gulliver walks into the 2008 World Championship carrying a seven-year unbeaten streak. Anastasia Dobromyslova walks out with the title — and the streak in pieces.
The woman who beat the unbeatable champion went on to win the Women's World Professional Darts Championship three times, shaping the trajectory of the British Darts Organisation along the way. Here's how she got there.
Early Years and Junior Titles
Born in September 1984, Dobromyslova threw her first darts at 12 — and never looked back. She went on to win the Russian National Championship multiple times.
The junior honors stacked up fast. She took the Girls' World Masters title in 2001, then the WDF Europe Youth Cup singles title in both 2001 and 2002.
Breaking Through
Her professional major debut came at the 2004 Bavaria World Darts Trophy, followed by an appearance at the BDO World Championship in 2007. That same year she represented Russia at the WDF World Cup, playing ladies' pairs alongside her partner, Irina Armstrong.
The Night the Streak Ended
The hallmark win arrived at the 2008 World Championship. Reigning champion Trina Gulliver hadn't been beaten in seven years — Dobromyslova ended the run and claimed her first world title.
That victory made her one of the headline names in the women's game. It also set up the boldest move of her career.
The PDC Detour and Two More Crowns
In 2009 she made a short-term switch to the male-dominated PDC — a move that showed her versatility and resilience. After testing those waters, she returned to the familiar BDO.
The titles kept coming on her return: world champion for the second time in 2012, and a third time in 2013. Three crowns at the BDO World Championship cemented her place in the sport.
- Tournament-spec construction delivers consistent, match-ready performance for players of all skill levels
- Self-healing sisal and a repositionable number ring help extend the board's playing life
- Ultra-thin wiring reduces bounce-outs so more darts land cleanly in the scoring area
'From Russia with Love'
In the darting community she's affectionately known as 'From Russia with Love' — a James Bond-inspired nod to her Russian roots — or simply 'Anastasia.' The name fits a player who made her country a fixture on darts' biggest stages.
She plays both steel-tip and soft-tip darts, and she's represented Russia at the WDF World Cup and Europe Cup. That command of both formats earned her the status of former world and European champion.
Still in the Game
Dobromyslova remains an integral part of the World Darts Federation, a darts journey running continuously since 2001. Few careers cover as much ground — junior worlds, national titles, three world championships, and both formats of the game.
From her early days in Russia to global recognition, her story reads as simple proof that passion and hard work travel.