A 9-dart finish is the holy grail of darts, the perfect game in which a player achieves the lowest possible number of darts to complete a leg of 501. But how likely is a 9-dart finish? In this blog post, we’ll explore the rarity of this feat, the skills required to achieve it, and the odds that both amateur and professional players face when attempting this ultimate darts accomplishment.
The Rarity of a 9-Dart Finish
A 9-dart finish is an exceptionally rare occurrence, even among professional players. Since the first recorded 9-darter in 1984 by John Lowe, there have been approximately 50 televised 9-dart finishes, with only a handful of players achieving this feat more than once. The rarity of a 9-darter stems from the combination of high-scoring throws and precise finishing required to accomplish it.
Breaking Down the 9-Dart Finish
A perfect 9-dart game consists of three rounds of darts, with each round totaling 180 points (three triple 20s), followed by a precise finish that reaches exactly 501 points. The most common sequence for a 9-dart finish is:
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 20 (60 points)
- Triple 19 (57 points)
- Double 12 (24 points)
There are other variations, but this sequence is the most straightforward and popular among players.
Calculating the Odds
It is challenging to quantify the precise odds of a 9-dart finish, as they can vary depending on a player’s skill level, experience, and consistency. However, we can estimate the odds by considering the probability of hitting each target in the sequence:
Assuming a professional player has a 50% chance of hitting a triple 20, a 70% chance of hitting a triple 19, and an 80% chance of hitting a double 12, the estimated odds for this player to achieve a 9-dart finish would be:
0.5^6 * 0.7 * 0.8 ≈ 0.00137 or 1 in 729
For an amateur player, the odds would be significantly lower, given their lower accuracy rates.
A 9-Dart Finish – Skill Meets Serendipity
In conclusion, a 9-dart finish is an extremely rare and exceptional feat in the world of darts. The likelihood of achieving it depends on a player’s skill, experience, and consistency, with professional players having better odds than amateurs. However, even for the pros, the perfect game remains elusive and awe-inspiring, a testament to the combination of skill and serendipity that defines the beauty of darts.
