What is a 9 dart finish?
A 9 dart finish is the minimum amount of darts you would need to throw to close out a game of 501 darts. There are a number of ways to complete a 9 dart finish:
- Treble 20 (60), treble 19 (57) and double 12 (24)
- Treble 20 (60), treble 15 (45) and double 18 (36)
- Treble 17 (51), treble 18 (54) and double 18 (36)
Another way is to score 167 with each three dart throw:
Treble 20 (60), treble 19 (57) and bullseye (50)
Who has done a 9 dart finish?
John Lowe completed the first ever televised 9 dart finish in 1984.
Paul Lim was the first player to hit a 9 dart finish in World Championship Darts.
Adrian Lewis is the first player to hit a 9 dart finish in a World Championship Final.
There have been over 420 “9 darters” since 1996
Only 3 players have hot 180’s after double start ( a double start is required in the World Grand Prix Tournament). These are:
Brendan Dolan
James Wade and
Robert Thornton
Interestingly James Wade and Robert Thornton were playing each other when they scored their individual 9 dart finishes!
Has anyone ever hit two 9 darters in a row?
It’s a question that has been on the minds of darts enthusiasts for years – has anyone ever hit two 9 darters in a row? The answer is…
No…
but it’s been close!
So what is the story?
Two players that have come closest to hitting two 9 dart finishes in a row. These are Phil Taylor (in the 2010 Premier League Final) and Michael van Gerwen (in a 2017 UK Open Qualifier).
In each case, both players hit two 9 Dart finishes in the same match. The next closest is Gerwyn Price.
Gerwyn hit two 9 dart finishes in one night in the Premier League when they played in Belfast. He produced his first flawless leg in a 6-5 semi-final win over MVG.
The Ice man then went on to repeat the feat when he won 6-4 against James Wade in the final.
That tells you just how hard this 9 darter is.
Do you think anyone will ever hit two 9 dart finishes in a row? Let us know in the comments below!
9 Dart FAQs
How many 9 darters are there?
69 9 dart legs have been thrown by 31 different players in televised matches.
How common is a 9 dart finish?
9 dart finishes are very rare. It has been calculated that on average it would take a pro approximately 5000 legs to hit a 9 dart finish.
How much is a 9 darter worth in the World Championship?
There is no cash prize for hitting a 9 dart finish..
However the PDC “9 Dart Club” is open to only those select players who hit a 9 dart finish.
If a player hits a 9 darter in a televised tournament then they will receive a Gold Pin Badge.
If a player hits a perfect leg in a non-televised event, then they are awarded a Silver Pin Badge.
What is the highest darts checkout?
The highest dart checkout is the big fish, which is 170.
This finish comprises treble 20 (60), treble 20 (60) and double bullseye (50)
Takeaways
- The 9 dart finish is very rare. A pro dart player will hit one every 5000 legs they play on average.
- There is no but a gold pin or silver pin Badge are awarded to players if they hit a 9 dart finish in televised or on televised games respectively.
- Michael Van Gerwen has had the most 9 darters, 24. Next in line is Phil Taylor with 21.
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