Short answer: two nine-darters in one match has happened, but completed back-to-back nine-darters means consecutive perfect legs, and that is a stricter claim. The famous near-miss is Michael van Gerwen’s 17 perfect darts at the 2013 World Championship, where he missed double 12 for consecutive nine-darters.
Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. Darts record claims depend on context: televised matches, floor events, exhibitions, local leagues and soft-tip formats are not always recorded in the same way. This guide focuses on standard steel-tip record wording and uses public, checkable examples.
Start with the wording
The phrase “back-to-back nine-darters” sounds simple, but it is often used loosely. Strictly, it means two completed nine-dart finishes in consecutive legs. That is different from two nine-darters somewhere in the same match, two nine-darters on the same night, or both players having nine-dart chances in nearby legs.
This distinction matters because the record claim changes completely. Two in one match is already extraordinary. Consecutive perfect legs would mean eighteen perfect darts across two straight legs with no ordinary leg in between.
What counts as a nine-darter?
A nine-darter is a perfect 501 leg completed in nine darts. The classic route is 180, 180, then 141, often finished T20, T19, D12. PDC Europe calls the 9-Darter the perfect game and notes that the classic way is 180, 180 and 141.
A player can hit 180, 180 and still fail to complete the nine-darter. The checkout matters. The final dart must finish the leg legally under the rules being played.
Two in one match: completed
Phil Taylor made history in the 2010 Premier League final against James Wade by hitting two nine-darters in one match. Sky Sports describes Taylor as becoming the first man in the sport’s history to land two nine-darters in the same match.
Michael van Gerwen later joined that category in 2017 at the UK Open Qualifiers against Ryan Murray. Sky Sports reported that Van Gerwen became only the second player in darting history to hit two nine-dart finishes in one match.
Those are completed two-in-one-match examples. They are not automatically back-to-back unless the perfect legs were consecutive.
Both players hitting nine-darters in one match
Another rare category is both players hitting a nine-darter in the same match. James Wade and Robert Thornton made that kind of history at the 2014 World Grand Prix. This is different again from one player hitting back-to-back perfect legs.
It is still a major record moment, but the wording is precise: both players hit one in the same match. That does not mean the same player hit two, and it does not mean consecutive perfect legs.
Same-leg history is different again
There is also the “same leg” category, where both players are on a perfect-leg path in the same leg. Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen produced the most famous example in the 2023 World Championship final: Van Gerwen missed his ninth dart, then Smith completed the 141 checkout. That became widely described as one of the greatest legs in darts history.
That moment is related to this discussion because it shows how many different record categories exist around nine-darters. Same leg does not mean back-to-back. Same match does not mean back-to-back. Near back-to-back does not mean completed back-to-back. The exact wording is the whole story, especially when claims spread quickly.
The famous 17-perfect-dart near miss
Michael van Gerwen’s 17 perfect darts against James Wade at the 2013 World Championship is one of the clearest examples of how close back-to-back nine-darters can get. He completed one nine-darter, then started the next leg with eight perfect darts before missing double 12 for the second.
Sky Sports describes it as Van Gerwen coming close to darting immortality with 17 perfect darts. That is not a completed back-to-back record, but it is the benchmark near-miss most fans refer to when the question comes up.
Why back-to-back is harder than two in a match
Two nine-darters in one match can happen with ordinary legs between them. Back-to-back gives the player no reset leg. After the first nine-darter, the next leg begins under a different emotional load: crowd noise, opponent reaction, adrenaline and awareness of history.
The second leg is not just another attempt. The first dart of the second leg already carries record pressure. A tiny change in grip, rhythm or focus can break the route immediately.
Why the difficulty compounds
A nine-darter is already a chain of nine successful darts. Back-to-back would double the chain to eighteen darts across consecutive legs. That does not simply feel twice as hard. It compounds because the second leg is thrown after the emotional spike of the first.
The first nine-darter changes the room. The crowd reacts, the opponent may slow down or respond, and the player has to return to the oche with the whole venue waiting to see what happens next. That changes the mental conditions of the second attempt.
Even the scoring route can feel different. The first leg may be about completing a rare achievement. The second leg is suddenly about history. That shift is exactly why Van Gerwen's 17-perfect-dart sequence remains so famous: it showed the idea was possible enough to imagine, but still brutal enough to escape him by one dart.
Record wording guide
| Claim | Meaning | Example wording |
|---|---|---|
| One nine-darter | One perfect 501 leg | Player hit a nine-dart finish |
| Two in one match | Two perfect legs in the same match | Taylor 2010; Van Gerwen 2017 |
| Both players hit one | Each player hit a nine-darter in the match | Wade and Thornton 2014 |
| 17 perfect darts | One completed nine plus eight perfect darts next leg | Van Gerwen near miss |
| Back-to-back | Two consecutive completed perfect legs | Requires strict verification |
Why sources matter
Darts has televised majors, floor events, local leagues, online events, exhibitions and soft-tip competitions. A claim can be true in one record environment and unverified in another. That is why careful articles should say what context they mean.
For major public claims, use reputable sources such as PDC, Sky Sports, BBC, major newspapers, tournament reports or official event records. Social clips can show a moment, but they may not prove the full competition context.
How to read clips and headlines
Headlines often compress the claim because “two nine-darters” is more exciting than the record category behind it. A clip title might say “near back-to-back” or “two in one match”, and those are not interchangeable. Watch for three details: who hit the nine-darters, whether they were in the same match, and whether they came in consecutive legs.
Also check whether the event was televised, a floor event, an exhibition or a local competition. A televised record is easier to verify because the footage, opponent, leg order and match context are usually public. Floor and local records may be real, but the evidence standard is different.
Safe wording examples
Safe: “Phil Taylor hit two nine-darters in one match in the 2010 Premier League final.” That is a sourced same-match claim.
Safe: “Michael van Gerwen hit two nine-darters in one match at the 2017 UK Open Qualifiers.” That is another sourced same-match claim.
Safe: “Van Gerwen came within one dart of back-to-back nine-darters with 17 perfect darts.” That describes the near miss without upgrading it into a completed record.
Needs proof: “A player hit back-to-back nine-darters.” That needs evidence that the perfect legs were consecutive and completed under the stated format.
What players can learn from the idea
For normal players, the lesson is not to chase back-to-back nine-darters. The lesson is reset discipline. After a great visit, many players rush the next one. After a 180, they throw the next dart differently. After a strong leg, they relax too much or try too hard.
A back-to-back perfect-leg attempt is the extreme version of that problem. The player has to reset after perfection and throw the next leg as if the previous one is finished.
The practical version for normal players
Most players will never need to manage the pressure of a second consecutive nine-dart attempt. But every player needs to manage the next visit after something good happens. A 100 can make you rush. A 140 can make you chase the 180. A clean checkout can make the first visit of the next leg loose.
That is the realistic training value. Learn to start the next leg normally after a strong leg. Learn to keep the same throw after two good darts. Learn to reset after applause, frustration or surprise. These habits sit at the root of elite record moments, but they also win ordinary pub and league legs.
Practice inspired by the record
- Reset drill: after any 100-plus visit, step back and make the next visit deliberately normal.
- 141 block: practise the classic T20, T19, D12 finish.
- Two-leg drill: play two short legs in a row and track whether the second leg starts worse after a strong first leg.
- Pressure double: after two good visits, throw three darts at a named double and record the result.
- Route discipline: practise 180, 180, 141 as blocks, not as a fantasy sequence.
Equipment and setup checks
Perfect-leg practice needs repeatable feedback. If the treble 20 bed is damaged or your flights are battered, the results become harder to trust. Browse dartboards if the board is worn, dart sets if your darts do not suit your hand, and darts accessories for flights, stems, mats and setup essentials.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For the perfect-leg mechanics, read how hard a nine-dart finish is and the fewest darts to win 501. For scoring context, see why they shout 180 and the highest score with one dart.
Sources used
- PDC Europe glossary entry for 9-Darter.
- Sky Sports on Phil Taylor’s two nine-darters in one match.
- Sky Sports on Michael van Gerwen’s two nine-darters in one match.
- Sky Sports on Van Gerwen’s 17 perfect darts.
- The Guardian report on Phil Taylor’s 2010 two-nine-darter match.
How to judge a back-to-back claim
For records, the wording matters. Back-to-back can mean consecutive legs, consecutive televised legs, consecutive legs by the same player, or one nine-darter from each player in the same match. A credible claim should state the event, date, players, format and whether the darts were televised or officially recorded. Without that context, the phrase is too loose to compare fairly.
Bottom line
Two nine-darters in one match has happened. Both players hitting a nine-darter in the same match has happened. Michael van Gerwen’s 17 perfect darts is the famous near back-to-back moment. But “back-to-back nine-darters” strictly means consecutive completed perfect legs, so the wording must be checked carefully before repeating the claim.
FAQ
Is two nine-darters in one match the same as back-to-back?
No. Back-to-back means consecutive legs.
Who hit two nine-darters in one match?
Phil Taylor did it in 2010, and Michael van Gerwen did it in 2017.
What are 17 perfect darts?
It means a player completed one nine-darter and then hit eight perfect darts in the next leg before missing the ninth.
Should normal players practise this?
Practise the building blocks: scoring consistency, reset discipline, 141 checkouts and doubles under pressure.
