Darts
Darts: The greatest nine-dart finishes in history
There have been some memorable nine-dart finishes over the years. We take a look down memory lane and recap on the five that have produced the most excitement.
5. Paul Lim – 1990
The first nine-darter in a World Championship, Paul Lim’s effort won him a total of £52,000 and it was worth its weight in gold. Lim threw his arrows calmly, allowing them to nestle within the lipstick with each 180. He continuously left himself enough room as pressure mounted.
Stepping up to the oche for the final three darts, the crowd fell silent. The build-up was chilling and then when the final dart hit double 12 the room erupted. The classic commentary, sheer emotion and absolute respect on show throughout Lim’s nine-darter makes this one of the best of all time.
4. Raymond van Barneveld – 2009
With a nine-darter being so coveted you’d expect a player to celebrate like they’d just won the whole competition if they hit one. To be fair they usually do, but not Van Barneveld in 2009. A simple wink and a handshake with his opponent.
It was a perfect leg with some of the cleanest darts Barney has ever thrown. He does the business and carries on as if nothing’s happened. Cool as you like.
3. Adrian Lewis – 2015
How can anyone forget this classic nine-darter? In the last 16 of the 2015 World Darts Championship, Adrian Lewis was locked in a tense battle with Raymond van Barneveld. He had stated before the match that he felt in the form of his life and that a nine-darter was on the cards.
Every dart he threw was perfect. The room erupted as he completed the nine-darter, and the celebration matched the feat. Hands in pockets and a shrug of the shoulders directly down the camera can never be forgotten. Even though Lewis went on to lose the match, it’s a moment that will go down in darting history forever.
🎯 The greatest nine-darter ever is ________
We put the question to the experts 👇#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/aDHzmBQHHW
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) December 11, 2019
2. Willy Borland 2021
In the world of professional darts, moments of pure magic and breathtaking skill can define a player’s career. Scotland’s Willy Borland, making his debut at the PDC World Darts Championship, etched his name into darting history with a remarkable nine-darter in the deciding set of his first-round clash against England’s Bradley Brooks, winning 3-2.
The Alexandra Palace erupted in cheers as Willy Borland basked in the glory of his dream debut. The sheer audacity and precision displayed in the nine-darter showcased not just skill but a nerve of steel under pressure. Borland’s celebration mirrored the collective excitement of the crowd, marking a defining moment in his early career on the professional darts stage.
1. Michael Smith 2023
In what is arguably deemed the most exceptional leg of darts in history, Michael Smith delivered a sensational nine-darter during a momentous final where both players had a chance at achieving this rare feat.
It was the third leg of the second set, that featured such a remarkable sequence of plays. Van Gerwen initiated the leg with a maximum and a 177, prompting a response from Smith who countered with two 180s. Despite Van Gerwen hitting two treble 20s, his attempt at double 12 narrowly missed the mark. Seizing the opportunity, Smith stepped up and executed a flawless 141 checkout, making him only the second player, following Adrian Lewis in 2011, to achieve a nine-dart finish in a World Championship final. The viral commentary by Wayne Mardle vividly captured the electric atmosphere inside Alexandra Palace and the sheer greatness of the spectacle: “One man misses, does the other man get? I have never seen the like. Come on Bully Boy. Yes! Double 12…That is the most amazing leg of darts you will ever see in your life. I can’t speak, I can’t speak.”
Watch it back, it was a darting moment that will leave you truly lost for words.
