How Many Nine-Dart Finishes Have There Been At The World Darts Championship?

The World Darts Championship is fast approaching, with fans hoping to witness at least one nine-dart finish at Ally Pally this Christmas.

With that in mind, SportsCasting examines how many nine-darters there have been throughout the history of the World Darts Championship.

World Darts Championship Nine-Dart Finishes

Hitting a nine-dart finish doesn’t happen often, particularly at the World Darts Championship.

The ‘perfect leg’ is so rare in fact that there have only been 16 struck in PDC World Darts Championship history.

Striking perfection and nailing a nine-darter is both rare and special, particularly at the Alexandra Palace when the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy is on the line.

Ever since the first World Darts Championship in 1994, there have only been 14 different players who have achieved the nine-darter. Two players have nailed it twice, with nobody securing a hat-trick of nine-dart finishes so far.

Who Hit The First Nine-Darter At The World Championships?

It took 15 years of the World Darts Championship before the first ever nine-darter was hit at Ally Pally. That came in 2009 in the quarter-final, with Raymond van Barneveld striking perfection against fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen.

Ironically, ‘Barney’ hit the second nine-dart finish in the history of the World Darts Championship too, securing perfection 12 months later in 2010 against Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan in the second round.

Since then, van Barneveld hasn’t hit another nine-darter on the Ally Pally stage.

It’s worth mentioning that despite his 16 world titles and obscene amount of trophies, the legendary Phil Taylor never managed to hit a nine-darter at the World Darts Championship.

9️⃣ DAYS TO GO!

Nothing quite beats the feeling of a nine-darter at the World Darts Championship…

Here's Raymond van Barneveld sinking the first in the tournaments history back in 2009! pic.twitter.com/x4EIDmlNaK

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 6, 2023

When Was The Last Nine-Dart Finish At The Worlds?

Since Raymond van Barneveld hit the first nine-darter back in 2009, there have been another 15 struck since.

The likes of Adrian Lewis, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price are just some of the list of players who have achieved perfection on the Alexandra Palace stage.

It’s worth mentioning that only two of these have come in a World Darts Championship Final. Lewis’ nine-darter in 2011 against Gary Anderson came in the final, with Smith the only man to have hit a nine-darter in a World final since.

Smith’s nine-darter against ‘MVG’ is widely regarded as the greatest leg of darts ever, with the Dutchman missing double-12 for the nine himself before ‘Bully Boy’ stepped up and hit the checkout.

THE BEST LEG OF ALL TIME! 🤯🔥

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN MISSES D12 FOR A NINE-DARTER, AND THEN SMITH PINS A PERFECT LEG HIMSELF!

ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS YOU'LL EVER SEE IN SPORT. pic.twitter.com/WyKWFcxq5V

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2023

The 2025 World Darts Championship 12 months ago saw not one but two nine-darters hit, with the last of them struck by Australian Damon Heta.

‘The Heat’ struck perfection in his third round match with Luke Woodhouse on the Ally Pally stage, but actually went on to lose the match.

Heta is the last player to hit a nine-dart finish at the World Darts Championship.

So, will anyone strike perfection this year and join the elusive nine-dart club at Alexandra Palace?

HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! 🔥

UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 🤯

Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024

All 16 Nine-Dart Finishes At The World Darts Championship