From Phil Taylor’s eleven titles to historic nine-darters: the standout records at the World Grand Prix

Saturday, 26 September 2026 at 06:00

The World Grand Prix has held a special place on the PDC calendar since 1998. The tournament stands out for its unique double-in, double-out format, where every leg must not only finish on a double, but also start on a double.

Over more than a quarter of a century, that has produced a string of remarkable records. Phil Taylor dominates much of the record book, but Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Gian van Veen, and Brendan Dolan have also carved out their place in World Grand Prix history.

Phil Taylor the runaway record champion

Anyone scanning the World Grand Prix roll of honour cannot miss Taylor. “The Power” won the tournament no fewer than eleven times and is by far the most successful player in its history.

Taylor played the event nineteen times and reached eleven finals. Remarkably, he never lost once he had made the title match.

His first title came at the inaugural edition in 1998. Back then the event used a legs format, and Taylor beat Rod Harrington 13-8 in the final. He also lifted the trophy in 1999 and 2000. Only in 2001 did his unbeaten streak at the tournament end.

His eleventh and final World Grand Prix title followed in 2013. Taylor showed once more how dominant he could be at this event. Dave Chisnall did not win a set in the final and was swept 7-0.

Michael van Gerwen, with six titles, is closest to Taylor. James Wade, on two, is the only other player to have won the World Grand Prix more than once.

Phil Taylor poses with the World Grand Prix trophy

Nobody has won the World Grand Prix more often than Phil Taylor

World Grand Prix titles

11	Phil Taylor
6	Michael van Gerwen
2	James Wade
1	Gerwyn Price
1	Luke Humphries
1	Alan Warriner
1	Colin Lloyd
1	Robert Thornton
1	Daryl Gurney
1	Jonny Clayton
1	Mike De Decker
1	Luke Littler

Only three nine-darters

A perfect leg is special at any PDC tournament, but a nine-darter at the World Grand Prix is even rarer. Across the event’s entire history, only three have been thrown.

That is all down to the format. Because a player must open a leg on a double, there are fewer routes to perfection. A nine-darter can only be hit if the first dart lands on double 20, double 17, or the bullseye. Players who routinely start on double 16, for example, cannot finish within nine darts.

Brendan Dolan made history in 2011 as the first player ever to throw a nine-darter in the double-in, double-out format. The Northern Irishman did it in his semi-final against Wade.

Dolan opened the perfect leg with 160, followed it with a maximum 180, and left 161. He took that finish too. The historic feat also earned him his famous nickname, “The History Maker.”

Three years later came a match that remains unique in darts history. On 08.10.2014 Wade and Robert Thornton faced off, and both players hit a nine-darter. Never before, and never since, have both players produced a perfect leg in the same match at the World Grand Prix.

Gian van Veen takes down a long-standing record

One of the most recent records belongs to Gian van Veen. Since 2025, the Dutchman holds the highest match average ever recorded at the World Grand Prix.

Before that, the record stood for 24 years and was held by Alan Warriner. The Englishman averaged 106.45 in 2001. Van Veen edged past it in 2025. In his first-round match against Luke Littler he posted a 106.47 average.

Remarkably, Van Veen did not win a set despite his record average. Littler beat him 2-0 and produced an exceptionally high level himself. “The Nuke” averaged 105.58, which ranks third all-time. Together, Van Veen and Littler also hold the highest combined match average in World Grand Prix history.

Most ton-plus averages come in the first round due to the shorter match length. There are notable exceptions. Van Gerwen averaged 103.09 in a four-set quarter-final at the 2016 World Grand Prix. Taylor did something similar in a semi-final against Richie Burnett. “The Power” posted 103.02 and won 5-2.

Highest match averages at the World Grand Prix

Average	Name	Year + round
106.47	Gian van Veen	2025, first round
106.45	Alan Warriner	2001, first round
105.58	Luke Littler	2025, first round
104.86	Gary Anderson	2013, first round
104.47	Michael van Gerwen	2013, first round

Van Gerwen just shy of a ton-plus

While several players have posted individual match averages over a hundred, no one has ever won the World Grand Prix with a tournament average of at least 100.

Van Gerwen came extraordinarily close in 2016. The Dutchman recorded match averages of 97.39, 97.17, 103.09, 99.37, and 100.29 across his five matches. That produced a tournament average of 99.97.

James Wade just keeps coming back

While Taylor has the most titles, another remarkable longevity record belongs to Wade. No player has started the World Grand Prix more often than “The Machine.”

Wade missed the editions from 1998 through 2004, but has been ever-present since his debut. In 2026, the left-handed Englishman will line up for the 22nd time.

James Wade is competing in the World Grand Prix for the 22nd time in his career

On paper, the World Grand Prix seems tailor-made for Wade. Throughout his career, the Englishman has been renowned for his efficiency on doubles, a quality that becomes even more decisive in the double-in, double-out format.

He especially capitalized on that in the first phase of his career. He won the World Grand Prix in 2007 and 2010. In 2014 he reached the final again, but a third title eluded him.

Twenty maximums in a single final

When it comes to 180s, Taylor’s name tops the record books yet again. “The Power” holds the records for the most maximums in a single match and the most 180s across a single World Grand Prix.

Remarkably, both records date back to 1998. That was the only World Grand Prix edition played in a leg format. From the following year, the tournament switched to its signature set format.

Read also

In the final against Harrington, Taylor produced an unprecedented haul of maximums. Across the 21 legs played, he hit a 180 no fewer than twenty times.

Over the entire tournament, Taylor hit 42 maximums that year. That tally has never been bettered.

Samuel GillChief Content Officer

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.

In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.

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