Nearly two million people were watching the 2023 World Darts Championship final between Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith on Sky Sports – numbers that were unthinkable at the turn of the century.
Why has it become so popular? It’s pretty simple really. Darts is a fun sport, and it provides incredible moments of action.
In this article we are going to be looking at five of the most memorable moments from the PDC World Darts Championship over the years – as the incredible characters of darts have all been desperate to get their hands on the prize money that comes with winning the World Darts Championship.
Fallon Sherrock becomes first woman to win a match - 2020 World Darts Championships
In December 2019, Fallon Sherrock became the ‘Queen of the Palace’ as she became the first woman to ever beat a man at the PDC World Darts Championship, when she overcame Ted Evetts at the Alexandra Palace in London. Not content with that, she went on to defeat 11th seed Mensur Suljović in the next round, before being knocked out in the third round.
These two victories propelled Sherrock to become a household name in the UK, and really helped to transform the outdated view of darts as a sport – the glass ceiling was smashed. Darts is for everyone. She received an MBE in 2023 for services to Darts.
Phil Taylor vs Raymond van Barneveld - 2007 PDC World Darts Championship Final
For a long time this was considered to be the greatest final in the history of the PDC World Championship. The event that year was held at the Circus Tavern in Essex – as it turned out, for the last time, and what a way to go out.
Raymond van Barneveld seemed unstoppable that year, winning his matches at an aggregate of 15-0 on his march to the final. He had switched organisations that year, having played in the BDO World Championship final the year previous. At this final, he met Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, who had reached every PDC World Championship final up to that point – a legend of the game. Taylor went 3-0 up, only for van Barneveld to come back and win 7-6 in a sudden-death leg. The new kid on the block was here to stay.
Michael van Gerwen throws 17 perfect darts - 2013 PDC World Darts Championship
Back in 2013, Michael van Gerwen was on his way to becoming world number one, but he wasn’t quite there. Throughout the 2013 World Championships, he asserted his dominance on all-comers, with more than a hint of arrogance (describing Peter Wright as “not good enough” before their second-round bout).
In his semi-final against James Wade he hit a nine-dart finish, and then was so close to backing it up in the very next leg, just missing the double 12. He would win the semi, but end up losing the final to Phil Taylor, who claimed the last of his 16 world titles.
Rob Cross sparks into life - 2018 PDC World Championship
In 2018, there was a changing of the guard. The final saw fourteen time World Champion Phil Taylor meet Rob Cross, who had only recently quit his job as an electrician in order to focus on darts. Cross had seen off van Gerwen in a dramatic semi final, and now he was looking to take down the champion with the most titles.
It wasn’t even close. Cross swept aside The Power in emphatic fashion, winning 7-2 and lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy – his first world championship.
Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen - 2023 PDC World Championship Final
Nine dart finishes in darts are rare. There was only one in the entire 2023 tournament, and it just so happened to be Michael Smith in the final. In the same leg that Michael van Gerwen threw eight perfect darts. 17 perfect darts in one leg. The most incredible leg in the history of darts. It was too much for commentator Wayne Mardle, who ended up bellowing “I can’t speak, I can’t speak” into his microphone.
It will never be forgotten.
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