FORGOTTEN DARTERS: Jack McKenna was closest witness to first-ever nine-darter at a World Championship

In this column, we regularly reminisce about 'Forgotten Darters' from the past. Today it is the turn of Irishman Jack McKenna.

McKenna was born on 10 March 1942 in Newbridge, Ireland. In 1974, he made his first appearance by reaching the quarter-finals at the Winmau World Masters. McKenna lost 3-0 to Swede Douglas Melander in that event.

In 1989, he achieved the best performance of his career by reaching the final of the WDF World Cup. In that final, he eventually lost 4-1 to Eric Bristow.

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Nine-darter

A year later, however, McKenna gained even more fame. After beating Peter Evison in the first round at the BDO World Championship, he faced Paul Lim in the second round. Lim, who was playing for the USA at the time, beat McKenna 3-2. But nobody talked about that afterwards. After all, in the first leg of the second set, Lim caused a shock by being the first ever to throw a nine-darter at a World Championship. McKenna was the closest witness to this feat and was clearly enjoying this historic moment.

It also ended up being McKenna's only World Championship appearance. In 2002, he switched to the PDC and participated in the World Grand Prix. In the first round at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, he beat Cliff Lazarenko 2-1, but a round later Phil Taylor was too strong 2-0. In 2004, he participated in the World Grand Prix a second and last time, but this time he lost out immediately in the opening round after a 2-1 defeat against Dennis Priestley.

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Retirement

McKenna made one last competitive appearance when he tried to qualify for the 2008 BDO World Championship via the qualifying tournament, but he lost in the first round. Since then, the now 80-year-old Irishman has been enjoying his well-earned retirement.

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