The PDC World Darts Championship is right around the corner and if we’re lucky enough, we’ll see a nine-darter at Alexandra Palace – but how exactly do you score one?
How Do You Score A Nine-Dart Finish?
A nine-dart finish, also known as a nine-darter, is a perfect leg in the sport of darts. They’re incredibly rare and difficult to hit so when we do see one on TV, the crowd reaction is always incredible.
In darts, the end goal is to score 501 points and a player must reach that target total exactly by finishing on a double with their last darts.
The minimum number of darts needed to reach 501 is nine, and there are a few different combinations available to check out in three visits to the oche.
The most popular would be scoring 60 (treble 20) on each of the first seven throws, before switching to the bottom of the board for 57 (treble 19) and finishing with 24 (double 12).
A nine-darter is the highest single-game achievement in the entire sport and is comparable to a 147 break in snooker, a 300-point game in bowling, or a hole-in-one in golf.
Who Hit The First Nine-Darter On TV?
In 1984, John Lowe hit the first televised nine-darter. He achieved the feat on World of Sport and received an incredible £100,000 for his effort – plus £2,000 for doing it in front of live cameras on TV.
Lowe also won the event and an additional prize for highest checkout, meaning he walked away with £115,000 in his pocket that weekend. Not a bad payday!
#DecemberDarts continues with the John Lowe making the first televised 9 dart finish! Who will secure a 9 darter in this year’s World Championship?? #Lovethedarts pic.twitter.com/2kAoMcz3Dd
— 2 Blokes Watching Sport (@2bwatchingsport) December 4, 2023
Who Hit The First Nine-Darter At The World Championship?
During the 1990 BDO World Darts Championship, Paul Lim made history as he became the first player to hit a nine-darter in the competition against Jack McKenna in the second round.
In December 2018, 28 years after hitting the first-ever perfect leg on the world stage, he fell one short of a nine-darter against Gary Anderson.
🗓️ FLASHBACK: On this day 27 years ago, Paul Lim did this at Lakeside… pic.twitter.com/fL4tM7Yv1c
— Live Darts (@livedarts) January 9, 2017
Who Has Hit The Most Nine-Darters On TV?
Phil Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all-time, has hit the most nine-darters on TV.
‘The Power’ has scored a mind-blowing 15 nine-darters throughout his career on TV, with his first coming in 2002 and his last in 2015.
Has Anyone Hit Two Nine-Darters In One Game?
Yes! None other than Phil Taylor, who became the first player in darting history to hit two nines in the same match in the 2010 Premier League Final vs James Wade.
TWO NINE-DARTERS IN ONE GAME! Phil Taylor hit two perfect legs against James Wade in the 2010 Premier League Play-Offs. Incredible arrows! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/irNMXPc2Cs
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 16, 2017
What Is The Greatest Nine-Darter Ever?
There are many strong competitors for the greatest nine-dart leg ever and they’re too hard to choose between so we’ve listed some of our favourites below.
Adrian Lewis hits first nine-darter in a World Championship final vs Gary Anderson
12 DAYS TO GO!
Adrian Lewis loves a nine-darter at the World Darts Championship… Here’s his two perfect legs!
Stunning arrows 🎯 pic.twitter.com/jpiAi5TPx8
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 2, 2017
‘Greatest leg of darts in history,’ Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen in 2023 World Championship final
THIS IS INSANE!!! WHAT A LEG OF DARTS!!
MICHAEL SMITH HITS A NINE DARTER!! 🤯😲 pic.twitter.com/T6HWmRCQYX
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 3, 2023
Brendan Dolan hits first nine-darter on double start at 2011 World Grand Prix vs James Wade
“THE FIRST EVER… THE FIRST EVER IN GRAND PRIX HISTORY! DOLAN HAS DONE IT”
Throwback to Brendan Dolan earning his History Maker nickname in 2011 against James Wade with the first ever double-start nine-darter!
Incredible scenes 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jUe3SV86OK
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 30, 2022
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