Dutch star Christian Kist has electrified the PDC World Championship with his stunning nine-darter, setting the crowd at Alexandra Palace ablaze and triggering a remarkable £180,000 bonus offered by the tournament's lead sponsor, Paddy Power.
Kist accomplished this feat on Wednesday night during his first-round match against Latvia's Madars Razma. With the first leg locked at two legs each, Kist appeared unfazed by the pressure. Demonstrably, he unleashed consecutive 180s and finished on 141, culminating his performance with the nine-darter. The Ally Pally erupted, Kist punching the air as the crowd celebrated his success.
The astounding achievement came with rewards. Kist will take home £60,000 for himself, with the same amount going to the cause of prostate cancer and another £60,000 directed to one lucky fan present during the match.
The fortunate fan, chosen randomly, was caught on the big screen celebrating his unexpected windfall. Chris, aged 28 and from Sutton, shared his disbelief: "I turned around to my granddad. I was like, 'seriously? Is this me?' I was like, 'oh my God, this is mental.' I kept going like, 'this can't be real.' It took awhile to set in." He added, "No matter what, it’s going to be a good Christmas."
While the night began with Kist’s magical moment, the outcome of the match didn’t favor him. After Kist's nine-darter, Razma surged back to claim three consecutive legs, sealing the match 3-1. This result meant Razma is set to face another Dutch player, Dirk van Duijvenbode, on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Kist, who previously triumphed at the BDO World Darts Championship in 2012, has had simpler winnings, totaling only £19,000 over the last two years.
Day One of the PDC World Championship featured reigning champion Luke Humphries, who kicked off his title defense with dominance, inspiring the crowd with his performance against Thibault Tricole. He said, "It’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever experienced." This grand event at Alexandra Palace overall has featured numerous exciting moments across the first three days, with Humphries, Gerwyn Price, and Peter Wright all showcasing their formidable talent.
Humphries' emphatic victory started with nine consecutive legs, including a stunning 160 checkout. He may not have felt it was his best performance, but he focused on the outcome. He stated, "Now, I can focus on the next stage of the tournament and really think about being World Champion again."
The second day brought about Robert Owen’s fantastic resurgence from initial struggles, leading him to defeat Niels Zonneveld. Owen clinched the victory with strong checkouts. Gerwyn Price also won smoothly as he aims to reclaim his position among darts' top players. Price admitted, "I know how well I can play. I just want to prove to myself... this is where the tournament starts for me."
Highlighted by dramatic matches, the third day continued the excitement, with Peter Wright battling through against Wesley Plaisier, and Ryan Meikle securing an impressive win over Fallon Sherrock. Each match at Alexandra Palace has added layers to the already intense competition.
Looking forward, the rounds continue as players like Nitin Kumar and Michael van Gerwen prepare to take the stage, promising more electrifying moments. The early stages of the tournament have set the tone for what’s to come with strong performances from Humphries, Price, and Wright, indicating they are all well-positioned to drive deep runs through the championship. Each day of competition brings fresh tensions and wonderful displays of skill, making it clear the Paddy Power World Darts Championship is generating memorable excitement this season. Stay tuned as the drama at Alexandra Palace unfurls!
