The nine-dart finish is the ultimate shot in darts.
It seems simple but hitting nine consecutive, perfect darts is just not an easy thing to do.
It’s more common in the game now than it’s ever been before with players hitting them for fun, however, there’s still something magical about seeing one go in.
Therefore, today we want to look back at some of the most historic nine-dart finishes that really got the adrenaline pumping!
SEE MORE LISTS ON DECENT DARTS:
👉 5 biggest World Matchplay UPSETS
👉 Best BDO players that DIDN’T move to the PDC
Ranking the Most Memorable Nine-Darters of All Time
11. Luke Littler (2024 Premier League Final)
To say Luke Littler burst onto the scene would be an unbelievable understatement.
He made it to the World Championship final at just 16 years old on his debut and then went on to win the Premier League a few months later.
Some résumé for a then 17 year old…
Well, it was at the Premier League final that Littler just continued to prove doubters wrong as he hit a nine-darter against World No 1 Luke Humphries.
There were question marks about his inclusion in the competition at the time but that finish was undoubtedly world class.
It’s no surprise he’d go on to lift a World Championship when this was is nerve in his first year as a professional player!
10. Raymond van Barneveld (2006 Premier League)
‘Barney’ is a dart legend. After dominating the BDO he finally moved over to the PDC in 2006 and certainly announced himself in style.
During a 2006 Premier League match (his PDC debut competition) he went on to hit a nine-darter which would be the first nine-darter in the Premier League.
He had one of the smoothest throws in darts history and this was a display of composure and class.
Related: 11 SMOOTHEST throws in darts
9. Brendan Dolan (2011 World Grand Prix)
It feels unfair to have Brendan Dolan so low on this list.
A nine-darter at the World Grand Prix has only been achieved three times in history and Dolan was the first to do it.
It’s one of the more impressive feats in darts because the tournament format is double-in, double-out so not only do you need to hit nine perfect darts, two of them need to be a double.
The fact that it’s been achieved more times since Dolan did it back in 2011 is the reason it doesn’t rank higher on this list.
Still, it’s one of the most impressive legs of darts you’ll ever see and even more so when considering the significance at the time.
8. Gerwyn Price (2022 Premier League Night 3)
A then World No 1, Gerwyn Price put on a sensational performance in Belfast for Night 3 of the 2022 Premier League.
Over the years, the Premier League has not been something Price has enjoyed (something he is very vocal about until this year) but this night in particular was pure class.
The Welshman hit his first against Michael van Gerwen before repeating the feat a few match later against James Wade in the night’s final.
He would win the night also registering a 170 finish in what is one of (if not the) most dominant performance in Premier League history.
7. Paul Lim (1990 BDO World Championship)
While many nine-darters are iconic, few can be the FIRST.
Lim achieved the feat in the 1990 BDO World Championship, making it the first ever World Championship nine-darter.
Lim was a solid player but no-one would have said he’d be the first to achieve this.
Lim is therefore a cult hero when it comes to darts and still appears on the tour to this day, even making it to the 2024 WDF World Championship final at a fine old age of 70!
6. Adrian Lewis (2011 PDC World Championship Final)
There is no bigger stage to hit a nine-darter than the World Championship and no bigger occasion than the final!
That’s exactly what Adrian Lewis did during the 2011 final against Gary Anderson.
This historic moment made him the first to ever hit a nine-dart finish in a World Championship final on his way to winning his first ever World Championship.
‘Jackpot’ was some something else on the oche!
See also – 7 darts players who SHOULD have won more
5. Luke Littler (2025 World Matchplay)
Luke Littler is appearing for the second time on this list but it isn’t recency bias or because his name makes headlines.
His nine-darter against Josh Rock in the 2025 World Matchplay semi-final is one of the best legs of all time.
Both players had back-to-back 180’s to set up a nine-dart finish each. Of course the reigning World Champion would be the player to take it out and would also go an unorthodox route of finishing on D15.
This was the perfect leg in darts.
Technically, it could easily rank higher on this list and maybe it should?
4. Phil Taylor (2010 Premier League Final – Double Nine-Darter)
“The Power” cemented his legacy by achieving the unthinkable – two perfect legs in a single Premier League final match.
The first was pretty special on just the second leg of the match but when he followed it up later in the same match, the electricity in the venue was unmatched!
Taylor gave a wry smile after the first but you can tell that the second meant something as he knew it was a record and had never been done before.
Despite how good players are now, this record remains unbroken.
3. Willie Borland (2022 World Championship)
In his World Championship debut, against fellow youngster Bradley Brooks, Borland threw one of the most historic legs of darts we’ve ever seen.
In a sudden-death leg (of an already tense match) Borland did the unthinkable and hit a nine-darter to progress.
The reaction was complete elation as he let out a burst of energy followed immediately by a stone-cold pose for the crowd.
Most players on this list are World Champions (some multiple times), so Borland making this shot was pretty mind blowing at the time.
Genuinely one of the most legendary moments in darts history!
2. Michael Smith (2023 PDC World Championship Final)
In what is widely regarded as the best leg of all time, Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith were BOTH on a nine-dart finish.
MVG missed the D12 but “Bully Boy” would seize his opportunity taking out the 141 finish.
Oh, did we forget to mention that this was also in a World Championship final 🤯
Smith would go on to become the World Champion which further added to the significance of this leg.
Littler vs Rock was arguably a more ‘perfect’ leg due to no one missing a dart, however, considering this was a World Championship final you can’t have a bigger stage to hit a nine-darter of this magnitude.
1. John Lowe (1984 World Matchplay)
The true pioneer, John Lowe threw the first ever televised nine-darter in 1984, paving the way for future players to chase perfection.
This was like the first sub 4-minute mile, once people knew it could be done it became more normal.
Nine-dart finishes are common in the modern game with players hitting multiple televised finishes in just a calendar year!
Lowe was the first to do it though and the fact that he has the most viewed darts video on YouTube just goes to show what significance it had.
See also: John Lowe’s most memorable moments in darts
Seriously, some of the finishes on this list are not just the best nine-darters in history but they have genuine contention for some of the best moments in darts history – full stop.
What did you think of these nine-darters? Let us know which was your favourite in the comments below of feel free to hit share to get others opinions…
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