Sporting Life
Scroll down to watch some amazing forgotten nine darters
Scroll down to watch some amazing forgotten nine darters

The three most underrated nine-dart finishes in history: Paul Nicholson selects the perfect legs that need to be shown more, including a magic moment from Adrian Lewis

By Paul Nicholson
Darts
Fri May 23, 2025 · 1d ago

When we talk about nine-dart finishes, there have been numerous iconic ones down the years which everyone re and get replayed over and over again.

Pretty much every World Championship nine-darter falls into this category, especially 'that' perfect leg between Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen, while we've probably lost count over the number of times we've seen Paul Lim's Lakeside heroics!

During Premier League seasons we will often reflect on Phil Taylor's pair of nine-darters in the 2010 final against James Wade and when it comes round to the World Grand Prix we'll always recycle Robert Thornton and Wade exchanging perfect legs in the same match - not to mention Brendan Dolan's history-making nine!

The UK Open is generally all about the time MVG sandwiched one between two 170 checkouts against Rob Cross, while Gary Anderson's World Matchplay effort against Joe Cullen is among the first on everyone's lips when we reflect on our favourite Blackpool memories. It's probably more fondly ed than when Phil Taylor managed the first televised PDC nine-darter in the 2002 World Matchplay.

The list is almost endless and while every nine-darter is a great achievement, some of them live in people's memories for different reasons – whether it's the first one they ever saw live or whether there was a great story attached to it.

However, this week I'm looking at some truly special perfect legs that I don't think too many fans will ....

1. Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld, 2011 European Championship semi-final

We all how breathtakingly casual and natural Adrian Lewis looked when hitting the first nine-darter in a PDC World Championship final against Gary Anderson in 2011.

But this one against Barney later that year took 'relaxed' to a new level. It looks like the easiest one ever hit. He looks as though he could have hit it in his pyjamas.

People should talk about it even more because when you watch it, you'll realise why he's often described as the most naturally gifted player of all time. Imagine him in his prime against Luke Littler now?! If only.

There were a lot of players in the arena that day that stood back and said: "I'm never going to be that good."

And I was one of them. At that time I thought I was one of the best players in the world, but he made us all look very ordinary with that somewhat lazy nine-darter.

NINE-DARTER! | Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld!

2. Michael van Gerwen vs Ryan Joyce, 2018 European Darts Matchplay

We hadn't seen a nine-darter on the European Tour for five years and one day. So in a way, it was a wait of '501'.

The last one was hit by Ross Smith in June 2013 in Gibraltar so that's why players and even commentators, including Dan Dawson, always used to talk about 'the curse of Ross Smith'!

But then up pops MVG against Ryan Joyce on June 30, 2018 to break the curse after five years and one day.

At the time there was this massive exhaling of relief. Dan came up to me later that day as we were working together on the European Tour and he said: "Thank the Lord, it's finally happened!"

There's been plenty since then of course and MVG is responsible for a few of them. He's had one in Hungary last year, Munich this year and one in Leverkusen in 2019.

So this is why I this nine-darter particularly fondly but nobody really talks about it.

All the players knew about it. And they all wanted to be the person to break the curse.

When anyone was on a double to break the curse, they were more nervous than usual because they wanted to be the one to do it. And it went on for years!

NINE-DARTER! Van Gerwen lands first European Tour nine in FIVE YEARS!

3. John Walton v Martin Phillips, 2007 World Masters

Whenever we talk about nine-darters to win a match, the first one that springs to mind is Willie Borland against Bradley Brooks in the 2022 World Championship.

But the same feat had been achieved many years earlier at the 2007 BDO World Masters when John Walton completed victory over Martin Phillips in astonishing style.

Even though it was televised by BBC, this perfect leg probably doesn't get the credit it deserves because it was hit in the BDO days at a time when the PDC was going from strength to strength and enjoying most of the limelight.

Interestingly, back then there had only been 11 televised nine-darters before this one so it definitely should have been talked about more.

I guess the same happened with Shaun Greatbatch in February 2002 when he hit the first ever nine-darter on live TV against Steve Coote in the BDO Dutch Open. Many people think that honour goes to Phil Taylor against Chris Mason in August that same year in the World Matchplay, but that's not true. Shaun did it first.

So let's not make the same mistake when it comes to the first televised nine-darter to win a match. It's not Willie Borland, it's John Walton!

9-Darter John-Boy Walton World Masters 2007

Unseen wonder

Finally I want to draw your attention to one there is no footage for - and there never was.

It was hit by Jamie Caven in a Players Championship event in Crawley on September 5, 2010 and anyone present that day will know exactly what I'm talking about. If only it happened in the days of PC events being streamed!

Jamie was in a semi-final with Simon Whitlock and I was actually playing about four boards down in a quarter-final against Alan Tabern at the same time.

During my match we heard a little ripple of applause and I saw Simon giving Jamie a mid-game handshake so I realised it must be a nine-darter.

I lose my game, go back to my table, and somebody says to me: "Did you see the way he hit that?"

He went 167 with his first visit using treble 20, treble 19 and bull, then a 180 before taking out 154 with two treble 20s and a double 17.

Obviously you're thinking that's a very unusual route. I'd never seen one like that anywhere else in the world. But apparently the only reason he didn't go for the second 167 is because it was a very important semi-final.

Had it been in an earlier round and had a massive lead I think he might have gone for three 167s to complete the 'perfect nine-darter'.

Nobody has ever done this in a tournament and I doubt there's any footage of anyone achieving it - or even seriously attempting it - even in an exhibition.

I'd love someone to do it one day because it really would be the ultimate perfect leg.

I can see why going for 167 this way with your first three darts might be seen as showboating or arrogant by some opponents, but we're in 2025 where players are trying all sorts of crazy finishes and attempting unusual routes to make a name for themselves.

Anyone doing 167-167-167 would stop the world of darts. So any player reading this, I'm laying down the challenge!

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