The Nine-Dart Finish Explained: History, Route and Records
Nine darts is the fewest a player can ever throw to win a standard leg of 501 — and hitting all nine perfectly is the rarest, most celebrated feat in darts. Here is exactly what a nine-dart finish is, the route that makes it mathematically possible, its 1984 television debut, and who holds the record for the most.
What Is a Nine-Dart Finish?
A standard leg of darts starts at 501 and is played in visits of three darts. A nine-dart finish is the fastest a leg can ever be won: nine darts across exactly three visits, with no dart wasted anywhere along the way. It requires an average of 55.67 points per dart — or 167 per three-dart visit — sustained perfectly across all three trips to the oche, including the finishing double. Miss a single dart anywhere in those nine, and the perfect leg is gone.
The Classic Route: 180, 180, 141
There is more than one mathematical way to reach exactly 501 in nine darts, but the overwhelming majority of nine-darters follow the same pattern: two maximum 180 visits, then a 141 checkout.
Treble 20 × 3 (180) + Treble 20 × 3 (180) + Treble 20, Treble 19, Double 12 (141) = 501
Players stick to treble 20 for the first six darts because it is the single highest-value segment on the board, leaving the smallest possible number to finish with the fewest, most reliable combination of darts. The exact route on the final three darts can vary — some players finish on double 12, others use a different treble-and-double combination — but the 180-180-141 shape is the one seen on television more often than any other.
The First Televised Nine-Darter
The nine-dart finish entered television history on 13 October 1984, when John Lowe hit one against Keith Deller at the World Matchplay, checking out 141 with treble 17, treble 18, double 18. It was the first nine-darter ever broadcast on TV, and it earned Lowe a prize of £102,000— a huge sum for the era, and still one of the most famous moments in the sport’s history.
Records: Who Has Hit the Most
Michael van Gerwen holds the all-time record with 30 nine-dart finishes across official PDC events, 10 of them on television. He passed the previous record held by Phil Taylor, who threw 22 in total, 11 of them televised. The PDC keeps an official “Nine Dart Club” recognising every player who has thrown one in a PDC event.
The World Championship has produced some of the most dramatic nine-darters of all. In the 2023 final, Michael Smithhit a nine-darter against Van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace — with Van Gerwen himself missing double 12 for a nine-darter of his own in the same leg — on his way to a 7-4 win and his first world title.
More recently, Luke Littler hit a nine-darter in the opening leg of his 2026 World Matchplay second-round win over Nathan Aspinall in Blackpool, en route to an 11-8 victory as he defended his title.
Why It’s So Rare
Even among the best players in the world, hitting maximum treble 20s six times in a row and then landing an exact finishing combination without a single miss is an extraordinary run of accuracy under pressure. Most professional legs are won in 12 to 15 darts; a nine-darter compresses that into the smallest possible window, with zero margin for error on every single throw. That combination of speed and precision is what makes it the most celebrated single moment a player can produce on an oche.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nine-dart finish?
The minimum possible number of darts to win a 501 leg — nine darts across three visits, with every dart landing exactly where it needs to.
What is the most common nine-dart finish route?
180, 180, then a 141 checkout — typically six trebles 20 across the first two visits, then treble 20, treble 19, double 12 to finish.
Who threw the first televised nine-dart finish?
John Lowe, against Keith Deller at the 1984 World Matchplay, checking out 141 with treble 17, treble 18, double 18 — earning £102,000.
Who has hit the most nine-dart finishes?
Michael van Gerwen leads with 30 in official PDC events (10 televised), ahead of Phil Taylor on 22 (11 televised).
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