Ranking the top-10 greatest darters of all time! Will you agree with our list?

Saturday, 18 May 2024 at 21:49

Darts has produced numerous amazing talents over the years. From unexpected champions to iconic legends, this sport has a rich history of extraordinary players.

But who are the best darters ever? Judging that, of course, is subjective. You can look at number of titles won, consistency and a particular player's impact on the sport. In this article, we name our top 10 best darters of all time. This list includes players who have dominated in both the BDO and PDC eras, each making a unique contribution to the history and popularity of darts. Take a look below and let us know if you agree or disagree and tell us who you think we've missed out!

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10. John Part

John Part is considered one of the best darters ever because of his impressive achievements and contributions to the sport. He is still the only North American world champion in both the BDO/WDF and the PDC.

As a Canadian, John Part helped make the sport of darts bigger outside European borders. His successes contributed to the growth of the sport in North America. Part has played at the highest level over a long period of time and has been a constant factor in the world of darts. Throwing the right finishes at the right times proved to be "Darth Maple's" trademark.

Part's record includes three world titles. In 1994 he became world champion with the BDO, while in 2003 and 2008 he captured the world title with the PDC. The 2003 World final against Phil Taylor became a legendary match that is still widely regarded as one of the greatest games of all-time. After a thirteen-set thriller, Part won 7-6 over Taylor, ending a run of eight world titles in a row for "The Power.

John Part became the first non-British world champion at the PDC in 2003

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9. Adrian Lewis

Adrian Lewis was known for his natural darting talent and fluid playing style. He is often praised for his smooth throw and high scoring power, which made him a dangerous opponent for any player.

A protégé of Phil Taylor, Lewis was able to learn a lot from his mentor. Although 'Jackpot' often stood in the shadow of his iconic city rival from Stoke-on-Trent, he still managed to win plenty of titles in his career, including a pair of world titles. Lewis became world champion at the PDC in 2011 and 2012. 'Jackpot' is thus only one of three players at the PDC to successfully defend his first world title.

In addition to his world titles, Lewis has won several other prestigious tournaments, including the European Championship and the UK Open. Lewis has thrown several nine-darters in his career, including one in the World Championship final in 2011. This makes him the first player to throw a 9-darter in a World Championship final.

Adrian Lewis has been heralded for years as the "back-to-back champion of the world" because he captured the world title in 2011 and 2012

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8. Dennis Priestley

As one of the founders of the WDC (World Darts Council), the forerunner of what is now known as the PDC, Dennis Priestley played a crucial role in the split from the BDO. A new professional circuit was created, which transformed the sport and took it to new heights.

The Englishman has won two world championships. He won the BDO World Championship in 1991 and the first edition of the PDC World Championship in 1994. Priestley had a famous rivalry with Phil Taylor and although Taylor often emerged victorious, Priestley managed to beat him several times.

Dennis Priestley, almost always playing in his signature red-and-black striped shirt, became the first world champion at the PDC in 1994

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7. Peter Wright

Because of his unique personality and appearance, Peter Wright has become a true icon of the sport of darts. 'Snakebite' is known for his colorful appearance, with striking hairstyles and extravagantly painted shirts. His distinctive style has contributed to his popularity and brought darts to a wider and more diverse audience.

But the accomplishments don't lie either. Since 2014, Wright has made the final at every major tournament in existence at least once, and needless to say, his trophy case has been well stocked with some stunning trophies since then.

Wright has become world champion twice, won the European Championship twice, captured two World Cup titles and also won the World Matchplay, UK Open, Players Championship Finals and the Masters once. Add to that the many Pro Tour titles, which makes Wright absolutely one of the best and most successful darters ever.

In 2022, Peter Wright followed in the footsteps of compatriots Jocky Wilson and Gary Anderson by becoming the third Scottish player to take his second world title

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6. John Lowe

John Lowe has won three world championships, in 1979, 1987 and 1993. Winning world titles in three different decades underscores his longevity and consistency at the highest level.

In 1984, Lowe threw the very first 9-darter on television at the MFI World Matchplay. This was a historic achievement that immortalized his name in the darts history books and marked a milestone for the sport as a whole. In addition to his World Championships, Lowe has won several other major tournaments, including the World Masters and the World Cup Singles.

Lowe played a crucial role in the split between the BDO and the creation of the PDC. He was one of the pioneers who helped professionalize the sport and create better conditions for professional darters.

John Lowe won three world titles, but is also known for being the first player to throw a nine-darter at a television tournament

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5. Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson has gone down in history as one of the greatest natural talents ever. His smooth and fast action is a joy to watch and his penchant for high scores make him a formidable opponent for any player.

Anderson has won the PDC World Darts Championship twice, in 2015 and 2016. In 2011, 2017 and 2021, "The Flying Scotsman" was also in the World final, but had to settle for second place. In addition to his world titles, Anderson has won numerous other major tournaments, including the Premier League Darts, the UK Open and the World Matchplay.

Anderson not only achieved successes as a player, but also contributed to the growth and popularity of darts. His participation in various tournaments, demonstrations and promotional events has brought the sport to a wider audience.

Anderson is known for throwing a lot of high scores and having one of the smoothest throws. In 2015 and 2016, he cashed in on his talent by winning the world title

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4. Raymond van Barneveld

Raymond van Barneveld has won five world championships, four with the British Darts Organization (BDO) and one with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). His fifth title in 2007 at the PDC, after a historic comeback in the final against Phil Taylor, is considered one of the most epic moments in the history of the sport.

As a Dutchman, Van Barneveld helped the sport gain popularity outside the United Kingdom. His successes have contributed to the growth of darts around the world, particularly in the Netherlands and other European countries. Raymond van Barneveld enjoyed immense popularity among fans around the world. Everywhere the Dutchman goes, he can count on the support of the well-known Barney Army.

After a legendary final, Raymond van Barneveld captured his fifth world title in 2007 by defeating his great rival Phil Taylor 7-6.

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3. Eric Bristow

Bristow won the World Darts Championship five times with the British Darts Organization (BDO), a record unmatched at the time. His reign in the 1980s, in which he dominated the sport, established him as one of the greatest players of all time.

One of the first dart players to gain notoriety outside the dart world, Bristow played a crucial role in popularizing darts as a spectator sport. His personality and exciting playing style helped darts reach a wider audience and grow the sport.

Bristow was known for his swagger and showmanship on stage. His ability to entertain audiences, combined with his impressive skills, made him one of the most exciting and beloved figures in the dart world. 'The Crafty Cockney' was one of the first players to approach darts as a professional sport. He was a founding member of the World Darts Council (now the Professional Darts Corporation), which helped create better tournaments, prize money and opportunities for professional darters.

Eric Bristow was the best player in the 1980s. Over a seven-year period, "The Crafty Cockney" managed to capture five world titles

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2. Michael van Gerwen

At an early age, Van Gerwen experienced a major breakthrough by winning the World Masters in 2006 at the age of just 17. At the same age, Van Gerwen also became the youngest player ever to throw a nine-darter at a televised tournament at the Masters of Darts in 2007.

It took a while after that before Van Gerwen also reached maturity at the PDC, but as of 2012, the Van Gerwen era at the PDC finally began. He won the World Grand Prix that year. In 2014, 'Mighty Mike' became world champion for the first time, and world titles later followed in 2017 and 2019. Meanwhile, the tally stands at more than 60 televised titles, including seven times the Premier League Darts, six times the World Grand Prix, four times the European Championship and three titles at tournaments such as the UK Open, World Matchplay and the Grand Slam of Darts. In addition, Van Gerwen led the world rankings continuously from January 2014 to January 2021.

Van Gerwen has broken numerous records and achieved milestones during his career. He was the youngest player ever to win a PDC ranking tournament and holds the record for the highest average in a televised match (123.40 points per throw).

With three world titles and more than sixty other television titles, Michael van Gerwen is obviously high on the list of best players of all time

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1. Phil Taylor

Taylor dominated the world of darts for more than two decades. His record includes no fewer than 236 titles, 101 of which were televised. It is not for nothing that Taylor is considered the best dart player of all time.

'The Power' has won the World Darts Championship no less than 16 times, including 14 times with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and twice with the British Darts Organization (BDO). His unmatched number of world titles is a record that will probably never be equaled. Taylor also won the World Matchplay 16 times, the World Grand Prix 11 times and both the Premier League Darts and the Grand Slam of Darts six times, among others.

Taylor was one of the pioneers who helped professionalize darts. He played a crucial role in the creation and growth of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Without Taylor, the sport would never have been as big as it is today. The Englishman was a master at achieving incredibly high averages during matches. He was the first player to regularly achieve averages above 100 points per turn. From December 1991 to May 2004 and from June 2008 to February 2016, Taylor held the highest TV average ever each time.

Still Taylor holds the record for number of TV ninth starters. Of his 22 perfect legs, 11 were at a television tournament. In short, Phil Taylor is considered the best darter of all time because of his unmatched number of world titles, his dominant performances over a long period of time, his records and his lasting influence on the sport.

Phil Taylor mastered the dartboard like no other. In his nearly thirty-year career, Phil Taylor won just about everything there was to win including sixteen world titles and 220 other titles