Can darts matches end in a draw?

Oct 5, 202311 min read

Darts matches end in a draw featured image with balanced score panels

Darts matches can end in a draw in some league or team formats, but a single leg, a best-of match or a knockout match normally cannot end drawn because the format has to produce a winner.

Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide explains when draws can happen in darts, why professional knockout matches avoid them, and how league fixtures can still finish level.

Darts draw decoder infographic showing that best-of matches cannot draw but league fixtures can — A leg needs a winner. A team fixture can still finish level if the format adds up several games or legs.

The direct answer

In normal head-to-head darts, the answer is usually no. A leg of 501 ends when one player reaches exactly zero with the required double. A best-of-11 match ends when one player reaches six legs. A set or knockout match uses deciding legs, sets or tie-break rules to find a winner.

Draws become possible when the event is structured as a team fixture or league match where several games or legs are added together. If both sides finish with the same number of games, legs or match points, the fixture can be recorded as a draw.

A single leg cannot be drawn

A single leg of 501 cannot normally end in a draw because only one player can finish the leg. The first player to reach exactly zero in the legal way wins that leg. If both players are on a finish, the one who completes it first wins; the other player does not get a reply just to make it level.

This is different from timed sports where the clock can expire with the score tied. Darts legs are completion-based, not time-based. A leg keeps going until someone wins it.

Best-of matches avoid draws

Best-of formats are usually built with an odd target. Best of 11 means first to 6. Best of 19 means first to 10. Best of 5 sets means first to 3. Because one player reaches the winning number first, the match cannot finish level.

This is why televised darts matches normally produce a winner. They are not designed to share points at the end. The format keeps going until the winning threshold is reached.

What about sets?

Set play also avoids match draws. A set is made of legs, and a match is made of sets. If a deciding set is required, the rules decide how it is won. Some events use a clear-leg rule, a sudden-death leg or a fixed deciding-leg procedure. The exact rule varies by tournament, but the purpose is the same: produce a match winner.

That is why fans may see 2-2 in sets or 5-5 in legs during a match, but that is a level score inside the match, not a final draw.

League fixtures can draw

Team league darts is different. A fixture might contain multiple singles, pairs or team games. Each game may have a winner, but the total fixture can finish level if both teams win the same number of points, games or legs.

For example, if a fixture has ten scoring games and each team wins five, the match result may be 5-5. Some leagues award points for a draw, such as one point each. Others use legs difference or games won for table ranking. The local league rules decide the result.

Drawn scores during a match are normal

Even when the final result cannot be a draw, the score can be level during the match. A best-of-11 match can be 1-1, 3-3 or 5-5. A set match can be 2-2 in sets. Those are tied positions, not final draws.

The difference matters. “The match is tied” means the score is currently level. “The match ended in a draw” means the final result was recorded level. In most professional head-to-head darts, only the first meaning applies.

Tie-break and sudden-death rules

Some tournaments use tie-break rules in deciding sets or legs. A player may need to win by two clear legs, or the event may use a sudden-death leg after a limit. The details change by competition, but the aim is to avoid a drawn match.

This can create confusion because a set can reach a tied position such as 5-5 before the final deciding leg. That still does not mean the match is drawn. It means the rules have reached the final method of separating the players.

Examples by format

Format	Can final result be a draw?	Why
Single leg of 501	No	One player finishes first
Best of 11 legs	No	First to 6 wins
Knockout set match	No	Deciding rules produce a winner
Team league fixture	Yes, sometimes	Total games or legs can finish level
Casual timed game	Possible	House rules may stop at a fixed time

Why professional darts avoids draws

Professional tournaments need progression. Someone has to move into the next round, win the night, take the title or earn the ranking money. A draw would not solve the tournament bracket. That is why knockout darts uses formats that separate players.

League tables can handle draws because the result can be converted into points. Knockout brackets cannot. The format follows the need of the competition.

How to set up fair casual rules

If you are playing casually, decide the format before starting. If you play best of five legs, there is no draw because first to three wins. If you play a fixed number of legs, such as six legs, then a 3-3 draw is possible. Both are valid as long as everyone knows the rule.

For groups, fixed-leg formats can be useful because they keep everyone involved and let matches finish on schedule. For serious head-to-head practice, best-of formats are better because they force someone to close the match.

Fixed-leg formats

A fixed-leg format is the easiest way to create a draw. If two players agree to play six legs regardless of score, the final result can be 3-3. If they agree to play eight legs, it can be 4-4. This is different from best-of formats, where the match stops as soon as one player reaches the winning number.

Fixed-leg formats are useful for practice because both players get a guaranteed number of legs. They are less useful for knockout competition because they may not identify a winner without an extra deciding rule.

Matchplay scoreline examples

Format	Possible score	Final result
Best of 5 legs	3-2	No draw
Best of 11 legs	6-5	No draw
Six fixed legs	3-3	Draw possible
Ten team games	5-5	Draw possible if league allows it

League-table implications

League darts can handle draws because the table can award points. A league might give two points for a win and one for a draw, or three for a win and one for a draw. It may also track legs for and against, games won, or points difference to separate teams later.

This means a draw is not a failure to finish. It is a valid fixture result under that league's structure. The same idea exists in many team sports: a fixture can be level because the competition table can absorb that result.

House-rule templates

For a winner-takes-all casual match, use “best of five legs, first to three wins”. For a time-limited practice match, use “six fixed legs, draw allowed”. For a group night, use “each player plays two legs against each opponent, one point per leg”. For a knockout night, use “best of three with a sudden-death leg if needed”.

Writing the rule down before the first dart prevents arguments. Most draw disputes happen because one player thought the match was best-of while the other thought it was fixed-leg.

Pairs and team nights

Draws are most common in team contexts because the fixture is a bundle of smaller games. A night might include singles, pairs and a team leg. Each section can produce points, and the overall total can finish level. In that setting, a draw is a normal league result.

Pairs formats can also create confusion because a pair may win their individual game, but the team fixture still ends level. Keep the individual game result separate from the overall fixture result on the score sheet.

Scorekeeping to avoid confusion

Use separate columns for legs, games and fixture points. A team can win more legs but draw the fixture if the league awards points by games. Another league might use leg difference as the main measure. The score sheet should match the competition rules.

For casual play, write the format at the top of the board before starting: “best of 5”, “first to 6”, or “6 fixed legs”. That one line removes most arguments at the end.

Can a draw be settled afterwards?

If the rules allow a draw, there is no need to settle it unless the players agree to a separate decider. If the rules require a winner, use the stated tie-break procedure. Do not invent a deciding leg after the match if the original format allowed a draw and both players accepted it.

In tournaments, the organiser's rule is final. In casual play, consistency matters more than complexity. Use the same rule every time so players know what they are trying to win.

Equipment and setup

A clear dartboard and visible scoreboard make match formats easier to follow. A measured dartboard stand or correct wall setup keeps the game fair, while dartboard surrounds protect the playing area during longer league nights.

Use consistent darts or dart sets so the result reflects play rather than borrowed equipment. Keep spare flights and stems available because broken parts can delay matches and confuse fixtures.

Common mistakes

Calling a tied score a draw: a match can be level before it is finished.
Assuming all league formats are the same: local rules decide fixture results.
Using an even fixed-leg format unintentionally: six legs can end 3-3.
Forgetting deciding-leg rules: knockout matches need a winner.
Not agreeing house rules: casual games should define draw rules before starting.

Visual guide: how to apply this at the board

A practical decision map for applying the can darts matches end in a draw answer at a real board.

Use this matrix to turn the can darts matches end in a draw question into the right practice, scoring or setup decision.

Sources used

Bottom line

Darts can end in a draw only when the format allows a level final result, usually in league or team fixtures. Single legs, best-of matches and knockout matches normally continue until there is a winner.