PDC Star Hit Incredibly Rare Darts Shot Luke Littler Hasn't Managed

During the 2011 Darts World Grand Prix, one player made history by landing a never-before-done finish.

The 2025 edition of the tournament is well underway with stars such as Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting all taking part.

Mick De Decker won the 2024 tournament and pocketed £120,000 after defeating Humphries 6-4.

Several big names have already dropped out of this year’s World Grand Prix, including six-time champion Michael van Gerwen, who lost 2-0 to Dutch counterpart Dirk van Duijvenbode on Tuesday.

Littler is the favourite to win the tournament and pick up the top prize of £120,000. The runner-up will pocket £60,000, with semi-finalists earning £40,000 each.

And the teenager has already made his mark on the sport, setting multiple records, including being the youngest-ever winner of the PDC World Darts Championship as well as the youngest to win the World Matchplay and the player with the most 180s (847) in one season.

But Littler has yet to achieve a rare darts finish that just three other players have managed to land in senior PDC events.

During the 2011 World Grand Prix, Brendan Dolan became the first player to hit a televised nine-darter under double-in double-out rules.

The ‘double-in double-out’ variation of darts is used in some tournaments - namely the World Grand Prix.

In a usual match, players can begin by scoring with any number on the board. However, in double-in double-out, they must begin and end each leg by hitting a double.

If they miss a double, they don’t receive a score, and their opponent gets to throw.

Dolan, now 52, achieved the historic feat of hitting the double start nine-darter in 2011 against James Wade before reaching the final of the tournament, where he lost to Phil Taylor.

The Northern Irishman started his nine-darter with 160 before hitting a 180 maximum score. He then threw a 161 finish to complete the perfect leg.

Dolan also pulled off another rare darts shot in the quarter-finals of the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship when he threw a dart that landed in the back of one that was already lodged on the board.

Against all odds both Wade and Robert Thornton landed double-start nine-darters in the same match back in 2014.

According to Darts News, Niko Springer also hit a double-start nine-dart finish during a PDC Next Gen tournament last year.

Luke Littler on World Grand Prix format

Littler has yet to win the tournament and has previously claimed that he “didn’t like” the double start format.

According to talkSPORT, Littler said: “I think it's obviously one of the toughest tournaments to win, with the Worlds, the Matchplay, the Premier League. But the double start: if you don't get off [to a good start], then you're in trouble.

"I can't say I really practice the double start often, but obviously, leading up to it, I think I'll have to, just get used to it. Every year, we'll see someone hit a treble 20 first out, and then they forget.”