{{Short description|South African darts player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox darts player | name = Les Francis | image = | fullname = Leslie Francis | nickname = "Striker" | birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1956|05|25|df=yes}}}} | birth_place = Gauteng, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | hometown = Gauteng, South Africa | since = 1978 | darts = 24 Gram Unicorn | laterality = Right handed | music = "Sandstorm" by Darude | BDO = 2005 | PDC = 2008–2010 | currentrank = | BDO World = | World Masters = | World Darts Trophy = | Int. Darts League = | Zuiderduin Masters = | PDC World = Last 72: 2010 | Matchplay = | Grand Prix = | World Cup of Darts = | Grand Slam = | Premier League = | Championship League = | Vegas = | European = | UK Open = | US Open = | tournament = PDC World South Africa Qualifying Event | resultyears = 2009 }}
'''Leslie "Les" Francis''' (born 25 May 1956) is a South African former professional darts player who played in Professional Darts Corporation events.
==Career== Born in Gauteng, Francis competed in the singles tournament of the 2005 WDF World Cup where he lost to Markus Korhonen in the first round.
Francis competed in the 2008 and 2009 South African Masters. He didn't manage to get through the first round at both editions, he lost to James Wade and Mervyn King respectively. Later in 2009, he threw a nine-darter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldarts.de/globalDartsEN/wiw/FrancisLes.html|title=Global Darts|first=Rags @ Rags To Stitches|last=Productions|website=www.globaldarts.de}}</ref>
He qualified for the 2010 PDC World Darts Championship after beating Devon Petersen in the final of the South African qualifying event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportstrader.co.za/pages/News%20Trader/35/3502.html |title=SA darts boosted by international competition |publisher=Sportstrader.co.za |date= |accessdate=16 June 2018}}</ref> He played against Ireland's Aodhagan O'Neill in the preliminary round and lost 4-2 in legs.{{fact|date=October 2019}}
Francis also worked as the director of the Gauteng Sports Council and president of the Gauteng Darts Association.{{fact|date=October 2019}}
==World Championship results==
===PDC=== * 2010: Last 72: (lost to Aodhagan O'Neill 2–4) (legs)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=4372 Darts Database Profile] * [https://www.mastercaller.com/players/les-francis Mastercaller Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Les}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Professional Darts Corporation associate players Category:South African darts players Category:20th-century South African sportsmen {{Darts-bio-stub}} {{SouthAfrica-sport-bio-stub}}