Latest news with #nine-darter
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Darts fans hail ‘greatest thing I've ever seen' as star lands extremely rare triple-bullseye checkout
THE Modus Super Series has provided darts fans with the fix they needed over the last few days. And it has certainly not disappointed after a Conan Whitehead landed an epic nine-darter. 2 However, that may have now been topped by Thomas Banks after he landed a remarkable 150 checkout... with THREE bulls. Banks was up against Steve Plumstead in a Group C clash with the score 1-1. Plumstead, 30, had just hit 133 at the board to bring his score down from 273 to 140. Banks had 150 to hit or risk his rival being able to checkout. And the 18-year-old prodigy, tipped to follow Luke Littler to the top of the darts world, made his three throws count. The cameraman had zoomed in on treble 19, expecting him to aim there. However, Banks instead went straight for the bull. That set him on a path to needing two more. And he duly delivered to move 2-1 ahead in the match, turning to the camera with his arms raised out either side of him. PDC stage official Owen Binks was stunned at the trip. Taking to social media, he said: "Refereed nearly 6000 matches for this business and that is arguably the greatest thing I've seen!! "TAKE A BOW THOMAS BANKS!!!" Other fans joined the chorus of applause for The Bulldog. One fan said: "Top arrows. Don't think I've ever seen that before." A second said: "Beautiful that." Another said: "There you go, this lad has it. Brilliant darts, just take a bow right now Thomas." A fourth added: "Brilliant checkout 150." Banks used the momentum of the 150 to win the match 4-1, which had followed a run of four defeats on the spin at the Super Series. He won the series last year, in similar fashion to Littler who had won it on his route to the PDC before eventually winning the World Championship. List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Almost an I can't spake moment' – Darts star hits brilliant nine-darter in ‘one of most insane legs ever seen'
THE Modus Super Series of Darts delivered one of the craziest legs of darts since the iconic, "I can't spake" moment. In January 2023 in the final of the World Darts Championship Michael Smith landed a nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen in one of the craziest legs of darts ever. And two-and-a-half years, later Conan Whitehead and James Richardson repeated that famous leg of darts. The moment came during the fourth day of the Super Series on Thursday. Whitehead, 39, already led the Group C clash 1-0. Richardson, 51, had a perfect response by landing six perfect darts in treble 20. The Barbarian responded in kind by matching his rival. However, Ruthless was then anything but, as he fumbled the chance of a perfect nine by landing a five in his first shot, eventually leaving the board with 96 after nine throws. Whitehead stepped to the oche with 141 remaining. And he was emphatic as he landed a treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 to finish a perfect leg to move him 2-0 ahead in the game. Reacting on social media, one fan said: "Darts heritage." A second said: "Absolutely incredible!!!" A third added: "What a leg of darts." Another said: "Almost a 'I can't spake' moment." Whitehead ended up narrowly winning the match 4-3 after a strong comeback from Richardson. He averaged 99.95 compared to his rival's 87.32. List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Gerwyn Price sets new nine-darter record as Premier League Darts fans say ‘this needs to be studied'
GERWYN PRICE hit a stunning nine-darter to set a new Premier League Darts record. The Welshman threw the perfect leg in a 6-4 first round defeat to Stephen Bunting on night 15 in Aberdeen. 3 3 Price was 5-3 down when he landed the fifth nine-darter of his Premier League career and second this year. The Iceman celebrated by letting out one of his trademark roars and flexing his muscles to the crowd. There was acknowledgement from a smiling Bunting as they fist bumped. Price 's fifth Premier League nine-darter saw him extend his lead at the top of the all-time charts. Legend Phil Taylor is currently second on the list with three. Price hit a nine on night ten of the competition back last month in a defeat to Luke Littler. Players are rewarded with an 18 carrot gold set of darts for every one they hit in the tournament and the prize is worth a whopping £30,000. Fans reacted to his latest nine-darter, saying: "This man's ability to hit so many needs to be studied." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Another added: "Love or hate him he is world-class." A third commented: "Mental how people said he's not good enough." But other fans believe there is a nine-darter "curse" as in the five that have been hit this year, only Littler went onto win the game. On top of Price's two losses, both Luke Humphries and Rob Cross got beat in the match they achieved the feat in. 3
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Ross Smith hits TWO nine-darters and delivers THREE straight whitewashes to win Players Championship 16 darts
ROSS SMITH reeled off the craziest stats in Players Championship history - to clinch PC16 with TWO nine-darters and three straight whitewash wins. But the English oche ace 's verdict on his performance was even more astonishing than his figures. 3 3 No player has ever been more dominant in this tournament than Smith was in triumphing in Hildesheim, Germany. But the 36-year-old claimed: "I don't actually think I played that well!" The Kent star Smith, 36, reached World No. 9 last year and has now won six PDC rankings events. And although that's a useful pedigree, no-one could have predicted his record-breaking feats on Tuesday. Smith sealed the crown by winning 24 legs in a row. In fact four of his five opponents failed to win a single leg. And only legends Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have ever bagged more than one nine-darter at the same Players Championship event. Smith said: 'I know I can be one of the best in the world. Consistency is a big thing, but I know I can win tournaments on a regular basis." The 2022 European champion opened with a 6-0 defeat of Dylan Slevin, then dispatched Chris Landman 6-3 in the last 16. 3 Landman briefly fought back to level at 3-3 - but from that moment Smith never lost another leg all day. He next sunk Danny Noppert 6-0 and Luke Woodhouse 7-0 in the semis. Barry Hearn reveals pool is the 'next darts' and predicts sport will be massive in five years And he demolished Brendan Dolan 6-0 in the final - with an average of 104.5. Smith polished off the Northern Irishman with legs of 14, 12, 13, 14, 12 and 14 darts. His joy in Germany means he has jumped up to World No. 14. Smith said: 'I'm so happy with the win. 'I've got the little plaques at home with the scoresheets from my Players Championship wins. They're my little trophies, and they mean a lot to me. 'I'm going to add another one to the wall today, and it's another incentive when I'm at home practising, because I want to win all the time; who doesn't? 'If you've won a major title you can win anything. I honestly believe I'm going to win more, but I need to keep working hard.' Leicester's Mattioli Arena will host the PDC's Players Championships 17 and 18 on June 17-18.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Smith throws two nine-darters before final whitewash
Ross Smith demolished Brendan Dolan 8-0 to win the 16th Players Championship of the year - having thrown two nine-darters on the way to the Smith, 36, had reached the final Hildesheim, Germany, with a scintillating run as he won 16 legs on the is just the third player, alongside Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor, to land multiple nine-darters in the same Players Championship final was a formality as Smith notched up an average of 104.56 and whitewashed 51-year-old Northern Irishman Dolan."I don't actually feel I've played that well - sometimes luck is on your side," Smith told the PDC."I want to win all the time. I will keep working hard to win another major event."World number one Luke Humphries, world champion Luke Littler and Van Gerwen were among the players to give the event a are 34 Players Championship events across the year, with the competition's finals held in Minehead in November.
