Nothing gets a fired up darts crowd going more than witnessing a 9 dart finish and below we look at 6 of the best9 dart finishes in tournament history. It’s one of the most amazing feats in tournament darts and below there are some crackers! Without further ado let’s get into the list of 6 of the best 9 dart finishes in tournament history.
Tournament: 2023 PDC World Darts Championship
Opponent: Michael Van Gerwen
Not only was Michael Smith’s the greatest 9 darter in tournament history, commentators and fans are saying it’s the great leg in darts history! Michael Smith was under the pressure of trying to win his first World Championship while Van Gerwen was looking to reclaim the title.
Down 1 set to nil and tied 1 all in the leg, pressure was on Smith as Van Gerwen opened up the set with a 180 with his first 3 darts. Smith then stepped up and matched Van Gerwen with his own 180 in his first 3 darts.
Van Gerwen then threw 177 in his next three darts which left him with 144 for his own 9 dart finish. Smith then threw another 180 with his next 3 darts leaving him with 141. Going for the 9 darter, Van Gerwen threw triple 20 and triple 20 leaving him with double 12 for his 9 darter.
Van Gerwen’s double 12 attempt just missed leaving Smith to hit 141 for his 9 darter. Smith’s first dart in his last throw of the leg was triple 20, his second throw hit triple 19 leaving him with double 12 to end a remarkable darts leg.
Smith barely hesitated, lined up his dart and hit the double 12 and lifted the crowd into a frenzy! Smith hit the first 9 darter in PDC World Darts Championship Final history and went on to claim his first PDC World Darts Championship and the number one darts ranking.
Tournament: 2010 Premier League Final
Opponent: James Wade
Who else but the great Phil Taylor could be at the number one spot? The man with 11 televised 9 dart finishes and the first man with a British TV live televised 9 dart finish takes out the number one spot after his 2010 Premier League Play-Offs performance against James Wade. Whilst the stakes weren’t at a World Championship final level, the fact that ‘The Power’ hit two nine dart finishes in the same match is reason enough to take out the top spot on this list.
Down 1-0 in the final, Taylor hit his first 9 darter. His first 3 darts were Triple 20, Triple 19, Triple 19 (for 174), Taylor next 3 darts were Triple 20 (for 180). The crowd was getting excited and could sense a 9 darter and ‘The Power’ didn’t let them down! Needing 147, Taylor’s final 3 darts were Triple 20, Triple 17 and Double 18. The crowd went bananas!
Credit for Wade to not letting Taylor’s first 9 darter effort break him, the game was tied 7 legs apiece before Taylor launched into his 2nd 9 dart finish of the match. His first 3 darts were Triple 20, Triple 20, Triple 20 (for 180), Taylor next 3 darts were another 3 Triple 20’s (for 180) which got the crowd to near fever pitch! They could sense history was about to be made and ‘The Power’ didn’t let them down! Needing 141, Taylor’s final 3 darts were Triple 20, Triple 19 and Double 12 and the crowd went berserk!
In Taylor’s next throw he had the temerity to flirt with a 3rd 9 dart finish in this match however he missed triple 17 (needing triple 17 then double 18) and had to settle for a 10 dart finish. Taylor eventually won the final 10-8, amazing darts from the greatest!
Tournament: 2013 PDC World Championship Semi-Final
Opponent: James Wade
Already the owner of the record of youngest player to throw a televised 9 dart finish (Age 17 2007 Masters of Darts Hengelo, Netherlands) Van Gerwen put on a darts clinic in the 2013 PDC World Championship Semi-Final against the unfortunate James Wade.
Van Gerwen’s 9 dart finish (and his subsequent effort next leg) was very close to taking the number one spot on this list, showing some of the most sizzling darts thrown in back to back legs. Van Gerwen warmed the crowd up taking an early 3 sets to 1 lead (though down 2 legs to 0 in the 5th set) in the 2013 PDC World Championship Semi Final when he launched into his 9 dart finish.
His first 3 darts were Triple 20, Triple 20, Triple 20 (for 180), his next 3 darts were another 2 Triple 20’s and a Triple 19 (for 177) which got the crowd to near fever pitch! Needing 144, Van Gerwen’s final 3 darts were Triple 20, Triple 20 and Double 12 and the crowd was delirious!
His blistering darts weren’t over. In his next leg he threw 3 Triple 20’s another 3 Triple 20’s, needing 141 in his last 3 darts. He threw a Triple 20, and with the crowd going ballistic after hitting Triple 19, Van Gerwen only needed Double 12 to hit back to back 9 dart finishes. Unfortunately he missed the double 12 but gees what a run! Check out the crowd in the video when Van Gerwen was going for his 2nd 9 darter in a row! One of the most frenzied darts crowds in recent times. Van Gerwen ended up winning the match 6-4 to face Phil Taylor in the final.
Tournament: 2011 World Grand Prix
Opponent: James Wade
The first 9 dart finish under the double in double out rules on this list. At number 3 on our list (and also with James Wade as the opponent for the third time on this list), Brendan’s 9 dart finish is all the more remarkable given the rules of the World Grand Prix dictating the in a leg scoring can only start once a double has been hit. After starting with Double 20, Brendan then threw for Triple 20, Triple 20 (160). His next three darts were Triple 20, Triple 20 and Triple 20 (180). Needing 161 with his final 3 darts for a 9 dart finish, he threw Triple 20, Triple 17 and the bullseye to finish remarkable 9 dart finish and sending the crowd into raptures!
Poor James Wade, he must be near the top of the list of darts players who’s opponent has had a 9 dart finish against them.
Tournament: 2014 World Grand Prix
Opponent: Robert Thornton/James Wade
It’s only fair that being on this list 3 times already as the opponent that Wade should be on the list as the 9 dart finisher, though technically in this case he was also on the wrong end of a 9 dart finish. This match was also the first time that two players hit a televised 9 dart finish in the same match! What was also unique in this case, not only was it the first time two players threw 9 dart finishes in the same match, they both did it under the double start rules of the World Grand Prix.
James was the first throw his 9 dart finish. He started with Double 20, then threw for Triple 20, Triple 20 (160). His next three darts were Triple 20, Triple 20 and Triple 20 (180). Needing 161 with his final 3 darts for a 9 dart finish, he threw Triple 20, Triple 17 and the bullseye to finish firing the crowd up!
Not to be outdone, Robert then hit his 9 dart finish with the exact same way as Wade previously did. He started with Double 20, then threw for Triple 20, Triple 20 (160). His next three darts were Triple 20, Triple 20 and Triple 20 (180). Needing 161 with his final 3 darts for a 9 dart finish, he threw Triple 20, Triple 17 and the bullseye to finish remarkable double 9 dart finish and sending the crowd crazy! James Wade’s feat in this match made him the first to have a traditional 9 dart finish and a 9 dart finish under the double in double rules.
6. John Lowe
Tournament: 1984 MFI World Matchplay
Opponent: Keith Deller
Last but certainly not least, the great John Lowe has the record of throwing the first televised 9 dart finish and whilst the effort was not shown live it was still a historical feat and amazing darts performance none the less (also the first one on our list not to feature James Wade!)
Lowe’s first three darts were all Triple 20 (180) as were his next 3 darts (180). Needing 141, his final three darts were slightly unusual, throwing Triple 17, Triple 18 before finishing with Double 18. For his historical effort Lowe is believed to have been rewarded with 102,000 pounds.
Notable exclusions
Paul Lim (1990 Embassy World Championship) first 9 dart finish in a World Championship, Adrian Lewis (2011 PDC World Darts Championship Final) the first 9 dart finish in a World Championship Final and William Borland (2022 PDC World Darts Championship) the first player to win the last leg of a match with a 9 dart finish! I’m sure you’ll agree that there was some sensational darts above. Maybe you have your own favourite 9 dart finish that isn’t on this list or even your own tournament or friendly 9 dart finish that has a special place for you.
Enjoy the PDC video of every nine darter of the decade 2010-2019