Shane McGuirk ends Paul Lim's Lakeside fairytale, becomes first ever Irish World Champion staving off late comeback

The story of the tournament was Paul Lim, but it was Shane McGuirk who lived up to his mid tournament favourite billing to defeat the Singapore Slinger 6-3 at the 2024 WDF World Championship. He takes over Andy Baetens' reign and becomes World Champion as the first from Ireland to achieve the feat.

A fairytale ends for Lim who at the age of 70 made darts fans dream after he hit the first ever World Championship nine-darter at the venue back in 1990. He brought it back to 5-3 to give real hope but finally the gap was too much.

For Lim, it is the end of a dream and he said that it would be his final World Championship. Whether this gives him the bug to continue remains to be seen but if this is the last of him we have seen on the big stage, it has been one incredible ride.

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To start the tie, Lim had the chance to add the first set. But he fluffed his lines as he missed four set darts and McGuirk went 1-0 up with a 16-dart break of throw. He won a high quality second set as Lim could not catch a break. The Singapore Slinger hit checkouts of 97 and 132.

But McGuirk went 2-0 up with legs in 14, 15 and 12 darts finally to claim it. It became even more rampant as he took the third set 3-0 in just 46 darts as he moved half way to the title. He went 4-0 up as despite Lim taking out 110, he claimed the fourth set 3-1 with a 13-dart break of throw.

But he blinked when it looked likely he would go one away. Lim got himself on the board holding throw three times to claim the fifth set. It was the first set McGuirk has dropped all week and featured a 144 checkout from Lim to make it 4-1 and start the revival.

A 174 and double eight saw McGuirk hold throw to go one away from a 5-1 lead. He sealed it in style with a 116 checkout breaking. He broke with a 58 checkout to make it 1-0 and he was throwing to go one away. But Lim broke back. McGuirk missed darts to break back but Lim chased around hitting double one then single 19 from double 20 and McGuirk was throwing for the title.

Lim pinned 120 to break again and stay in the tie and was throwing for another set which he sealed. McGuirk hit a 106 checkout to throw himself back on track. McGuirk missed 104 to hold and Lim pinned double three to break and he was throwing for 5-3 in sets.

An 84 checkout saw him make it thus. McGuirk last dart hit double two to break. A 95 checkout from McGuirk saw him hit back after a 180 from Lim. McGuirk missed 114 on double 20 with his first match dart missed but Lim missed 43 and destiny tolled as the Irishman sealed the win.

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