Darts World Championship Gold: Our top five moments

Updated: 20/11/2024

Taylor, Cross and Barney all feature

The 2019 PDC World Darts Championship is just around the corner. And we're getting in the mood for all things Ally Pally with a look back at our five favourite World Championship moments. 

Sit back and put your headphones in as we guide you through the last 35 years of darting drama, starting with one of the most famous finals of all time…

Deller’s 138

One of the biggest shocks in World Championship history came all the way back in 1983. Qualifier Keith Deller wasn’t given a prayer up against the likes of John Lowe and Jocky Wilson. But he beat the pair of them on his way to a memorable final against two-time champion Eric Bristow.

Watch out for the 138 checkout…

Barney beats Taylor at the Tavern

If Deller’s success was the greatest shock, then this was the greatest final. Raymond van Barneveld defeated 11-time champion Phil Taylor 7-6 after coming from 3-0 down in the last ever final at the Circus Tavern. Pure darting drama.

Qualifier Shepherd makes it to the final

Not since Deller in ’83 had a qualifier made it to the Final. Kirk Shepherd changed that in 2008. The Ramsgate-arrowsmith would eventually lose out 2-7 in the final to John Part. But it’s his semi-final victory over Taylor’s conqueror Wayne Mardle that lives long in the memory.

MVG’s 17 perfect darts

There’s nothing like seeing a nine-darter at the World Champs. And Michael van Gerwen very nearly treated Ally Pally partygoers to two in a row in 2013.

The Green Machine hit his first against James Wade and then cracked in another eight perfect darts to leave fans on their feet in North London. Unfortunately, the historic double nine-darter wasn’t quite to be for MVG.

Cross ruins Taylor’s finale

The 2018 Final was meant to be the fairytale send-off for Phil Taylor. The Power had defied the odds to reach his 21st and final World Championship showpiece in a game which doubled up as his last outing as a professional.

Pity no-one told Rob Cross. The first-year pro caused shocks aplenty throughout the tournament, not least in the semi-final with a spectacular win over van Gerwen. But he saved the best until last – destroying Taylor 7-2 in a quite unbelievable Ally Pally Final.

Any savvy punters who got 80/1 in early-March on the former electrician winning the Sid Waddell Trophy were left with a very happy New Year gift.

Rob Cross

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Original source: http://news.coral.co.uk/other/darts/darts-world-championship-gold-our-top-five-moments.html

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