2024-12-05

World Darts Championship Biggest Shocks

The PDC World Darts Championship is moving into view, which gives us a great excuse to pore over the archives and relive some of the incredible moments that have left fans of ‘the arrows’ in awe.

As always, BetMGM has some phenomenal odds and offers throughout the competition – check out our dedicated PDC World Darts Championship page throughout the action at Alexandra Palace for the latest prices, insightful articles and promotions.

From Keith Deller to Luke Littler, here are what we consider to be 10 of the greatest shocks in PDC World Darts Championship history.

LUKE LITTLER'S DEBUT

Let’s start with one of the most prodigious talents to emerge from this sport in a generation.

Luke ‘the Nuke’ Littler was a relatively unknown quantity in the sport outside of a few in darts’ inner circle who had perhaps witnessed him win the World Youth Championship.

He was just 16 years old when he entered the competition in 2023 and ranked 164th in the world.

Littler’s astonishing run to the final saw him overcome established, world-class and renowned darting names including three former world champions in Raymond van Barneveld, Christian Kist and Rob Cross as well as the reigning UK Open titlist Andrew Gilding.

But it wasn’t just the fact he reached the final or even who he defeated, it was the way he did it.

Littler dropped just six sets on his march to the showpiece while he recorded the highest average (106.12) for a debutant at the World Darts Championship and was the youngest player ever to reach the final at 16 years and 347 days.

A whirlwind of fame and intrigue followed Littler in the months afterwards but the youngster has not allowed that to infiltrate his incredibly calm and steady demeanour. He enters the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship as the favourite after winning the BetMGM Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts this year.

TWO MICHAELS, ONE 'GREATEST LEG'

“That is the most incredible leg of darts you will ever see,” screamed the memorable commentary of Wayne Mardle during the final of the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship. And boy, was he right.

It was one of those perfect occasions when everything bound together in harmony. Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen were both in incredible form with the latter not dropping a set on his way to the final.

It was the third leg of the second set, with a maximum and a 177 from Van Gerwen batted back by Smith with two 180s. With both players on nine-darters, MVG nailed his first two arrows but missed his shot at the double.

‘Bully Boy’ wasn’t about to pass up his chance to make history and, with three impeccable darts completing a perfect leg, he secured one of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history.

Many consider it to be the greatest combined leg of darts to have ever been played. It’s difficult to see how it can be topped.

ADRIAN LEWIS’ ROUND ONE EXIT

When Adrian Lewis was drawn to face Kevin Münch in the first round of the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship there were not many oddsmakers – or indeed punters – who fancied the German to spring a surprise.

But after waltzing to the first set Lewis could not keep up with his opponent, who scored heavily including registering a notable 158 checkout on the way to victory.

It was the first time the 2011 and 2012 champion – who had also made the final in 2016 – had ever suffered the ignominy of a first-round exit in the tournament.

KEITH DELLER'S 1983 TITLE

There are so many reasons why Deller’s triumph over Eric Bristow in the final of 1983 was remarkable.

He was the first qualifier to ever lift the trophy but, more than that, he became the only player in World Championship history to beat the world’s top three ranked players in the same tournament.

The prize money was a paltry £8,000. By beating Bristow, John Lowe, Jocky Wilson, Deller became the only player in World Darts Championship history to beat the world’s top three ranked players in the same tournament.

His 6-5 win over Bristow – at the time the best player in the world and arguably ever – was crowned by a quite memorable 138 checkout after Bristow had opted to leave himself with an easier finish rather than going for the bullseye to win the title in the throw prior.

“I’m tellin’ ya, I’ve seen nothing like it in me life,” screamed legendary darts commentator Sid Waddell as he reeled off three darts with incredible precision.

We have yet to see a fairytale of the Deller magnitude ever since.

PHIL TAYLOR'S STREAK ENDS

They say the best things in life come in bunches; Phil Taylor’s incredible eight-year-long run at the World Darts Championship run was less of a streak and more relentless winning machine marching inevitably towards title after title.

It did come as something of a surprise, then, when ‘the Power’ failed to win his ninth World Darts Championship in a row in the 2003 edition. The man to stop him in his tracks? The great John Part, who saw off Taylor in the final to break his stranglehold on the competition.

Despite having a better average in the final (99.98 vs Part’s 96.86), Taylor couldn’t make the big moments count and it was the Canadian who came out on top in a 7-6 thriller.

Taylor’s response? A run of three more consecutive World Darts Championships on the way to taking his tally of world titles to 16; an incredible feat and one of the reasons he is considered the greatest darts player of all time.

KIRK SHEPHERD MAKES FINAL

Beginning the 2008 tournament as a 1,000/1 outsider, Kirk Shepherd’s journey to the final of the PDC World Darts Championships got wilder and wilder as the knockout rounds progressed.

He kept managing to knock out big names – including Terry Jenkins and Wayne Mardle – despite failing to produce a three-dart average over 90 at any stage of the competition.

In the final, he produced the lowest average on record for a finalist (85.10) as he lost 7-2 to John Part.

Perhaps not one of the sport’s natural talents, then, but Shepherd’s run was extraordinary and reminds us of the beauty of knockout darts. Anything can happen.

ROB CROSS'S DEBUT CROWN

Despite entering the 2018 tournament as the 20th seed, Cross found some incredible form to overcome the likes of Michael Smith – in which he survived two match darts – as well as John Henderson, Dimitri van den Bergh and Michael van Gerwen before running into Phil Taylor in the final.

‘The Power’ had announced it would be his final World Championship in the run-up to the event, so the world and its dog was tuning in to see the greatest player ever claim the greatest ever swansong.

But Cross was too good for him, coming out on top 7-2 and spoiling the Taylor farewell party.

DENNIS PRIESTLY LOSES TO TAXI DRIVER

Cab driver John Ferrell was not expecting to take former champion and three-in-a-row finalist Dennis Priestly for a ride in the final world championship of the millennium – but that’s exactly what he did.

In a convincing 3-0 victory, Priestly could not get his wheels moving and it was as straightforward as Ferrell would have dared to have dreamed against a man who had not only won the world title before but had made the final three times in a row going into this one.

YOUNG MICHAEL SMITH BEATS CHAMP TAYLOR

The then World Youth champion and world number 32 Michael Smith was a massive outsider against the imperious Taylor in the 2014 World Darts Championship – the latter was 1/50 to win the second-round tie.

Bully Boy had to come from behind three times on the way to his 4-3 victory – but it was deserved and still ranks as one of the most surprising results in the competition’s storied history.

Though he would lose his next round against Peter Wright, his win would help him be named Young Player of the Year at the annual awards that year.