Darts
The 2023 World Darts Championship Final Between Michael van Gerwen And Michael Smith Produced The Greatest Leg Of Darts Of All Time
Having worked in the sports journalism and sports betting writing industry for several years now, Paul has gained vital skill, knowledge and expertise in a variety of different sports and industries. Paul is confident and competent at writing in-depth stories, features and betting predictions on a regular basis for SportsCasting. Having worked in the sports media industry ever since graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in 2020, where he attained a First Class Honours Degree in Sports Journalism, Paul has jumped at the opportunity to attend numerous live sporting events on a regular basis. This includes working at some high calibre boxing, darts, UFC and football events over the years. Paul has covered a whole host of sports for BBC Sport, as well as being a consistent and regular contributor at ESBR Boxing for several years before becoming a Director in March 2024. Paul’s expertise lies in a wide range of sports, but he is particularly specialised in boxing, MMA, golf, football, darts and horse racing. He is also well-rounded in various sports which he may be less familiar with. Working in sports he is less familiar with helps him learn new skills, as well as nurturing the ability to adapt and overcome potential obstacles. Being a sports fanatic, Paul relishes the opportunity at taking on new challenges and is happy to try his hand at anything. During his time studying at university, Paul had the opportunity to gain some vital work experience at both Everton Football Club and BBC Radio 1. This has helped Paul master his knowledge of sports writing, as well as learning new skills with competence and proficiency.
Get to know Paul Kelly betterPublished03 Jan 2025
Join us as we take a more in-depth look at the greatest leg of darts of all time from the 2023 World Darts Championship Final. Michael Smith strikes the perfect nine-dart leg against Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally in epic final.
Michael Smith Hits Dramatic Nine-Darter In Greatest Leg Of Darts Of All Time
When it comes to darts, there is simply nothing better than a nine-dart finish. Winning a leg using just nine darts is the epitome of perfection, it simply cannot be bettered.
Perfection in golf is a hole-in-one, in snooker it’s a 147 and even in bowling it’s a perfect 300-break. When it comes to darts, the nine-darter is the best any player can achieve.
Of course a 170 checkout is also impressive, as it hitting a 180. However, it is the coveted nine-dart finish that is simply the best. So what about hitting a nine-darter in the final of the biggest darts tournament in the world against the best player of the last decade?
Step forward Michael Smith, who struck the perfect leg in his 2023 World Darts Championship Final clash with ‘MVG’ at the Alexandra Palace in London.
Hitting a nine-darter is tough enough, never mind on the Ally Pally stage and never mind in the final against the great Michael van Gerwen. However, that isn’t all that was special about Smith’s nine-darter back in 2023.
What made it even more impressive is that van Gerwen had missed double 12 for his own nine-darter just moments before in the same leg. The Dutchman struck eight perfect darts before missing the double 12 target by millimetres, before ‘Bully Boy’ then stepped up and checked out 141 for the greatest nine-dart finish of all time. Period.
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
RELATED: Top 5 World Darts Championship Final Performances In History
Can This Nine-Darter From Michael Smith Ever Be Topped?
Often you’ll hear in certain sports that you’ve just witnessed the best football match of all time, or an all-time tennis classic. However, more often than not that is just a figure of speech and isn’t necessarily true.
When it comes to the 2023 World Darts Championship Final and the third leg of the second set, that really is the single best leg of darts that fans will ever see. Fact. It simply cannot be bettered.
The reason for this is simply because not only did Michael Smith hit a nine-darter, but he did so just moments, seconds even, after Michael van Gerwen wired double 12 to beat him to it.
This means that out of 18 darts throw by both players combined, 17 of them hit their required target. Should ‘MVG’ have hit double 12 for a nine-darter, then there would have only been 15 darts thrown and Smith wouldn’t have even had the opportunity of hitting the perfect leg.
With van Gerwen missing double 12 and ‘Bully Boy’ stepping up and checkout out 141 after back-to-back 180s for his nine-darter, this simply cannot be topped.
Not only did Smith do it on the World Darts Championship Final stage, but he did it against a darting legend and just moments after his opponent has almost done the same. Quite extraordinary and simply magical.
Be sure to claim the various darts betting offers and free bet deals available on the SportsCasting site ahead of the biggest and best darts tournament worldwide.