The 20 Greatest Darts Players in History — A Definitive Ranked Celebration
Darts has grown massively from its humble pub beginnings into a sport watched by millions across the world. Yet, as the sport has evolved, certain names have stood out — legends whose skill, personalities and achievements have shaped how we think about the game today. Ranking the greatest players in darts history isn’t simple — different eras, formats and competition make direct comparisons tricky — but when you look at influence, records and legacy, a clear list emerges.
Below is a comprehensive tribute to the 20 greatest darts players ever, celebrating their contributions and defining moments on the oche.
🏆 Top 20 Greatest Darts Players of All Time
20–11: The Pillars of the Sport
20. Richie Burnett – A charismatic world champion whose flair and powerful scoring gave darts a fresh edge in the 1990s.
19. Glen Durrant – Dominated the BDO before making waves in the PDC with consistent performances and major wins.
18. Jocky Wilson – A fan favourite with unorthodox style and two world titles to his name.
17. Bob Anderson – Known for his accuracy and calm under pressure, an early star of televised darts.
16. Rob Cross – Burst onto the scene to win the PDC World Championship and continued to challenge the best.
15. Martin Adams – A BDO legend with multiple majors and incredible consistency across decades.
14. James Wade – One of the most consistent performers in modern darts, notable for longevity and multiple major trophies.
13. Gerwyn Price – The Welsh powerhouse brought intensity and mental toughness that reshaped competition.
12. Adrian Lewis – “Jackpot” lit up arenas with big finishes and back-to-back world titles early in his career.
11. Peter Wright – Known as much for his vivid Mohican hairstyles as his darting excellence, a multiple major champion.
10–4: The Icons Who Defined Eras
10. Dennis Priestley – A fierce competitor with world titles in both the BDO and PDC.
9. Luke Humphries – The modern era’s torchbearer with world titles and a commanding presence in big events.
8. Gary Anderson – “The Flying Scotsman” blended grace and power, winning multiple world championships.
7. John Part – One of the few to win world titles on both sides of the Atlantic, combining precision with big-stage nerve.
6. John Lowe – A true pioneer who was the first to hit a televised nine-dart finish, he reigned in three different decades.
5. Raymond van Barneveld – “Barney” helped globalize darts, dominating in the Netherlands and winning five world championships.
4. Eric Bristow – “The Crafty Cockney” was not just a multiple world champion but also a mentor to future stars and a major reason darts grew in popularity.
3–1: The Greatest of All Time
3. Michael van Gerwen – A relentless competitor with explosive scoring ability, MVG rewrote records in the 21st century and consistently challenged the very best.
2. Luke Littler – A prodigy whose meteoric rise has already put him among the sport’s elite. By his late teens, he had claimed world titles and multiple televised majors, a feat almost unheard of at such a young age.
1. Phil Taylor – The undisputed king. With more major titles and world championships than any other player in history, “The Power” dominated darts for decades. His legacy isn’t just in numbers — it’s in how he reshaped the sport’s professional landscape and brought darts into the global spotlight.
🎯 What Makes These Players Great?
Greatness in darts comes from a mix of tournament success, consistency, adaptability and influence. Some, like Taylor and van Gerwen, dominated statistically. Others — Bristow, Lowe, Price and Wright — changed how the game was played, how crowds engaged, and how players approached the board.
Many of these champions have inspired the next generation. Luke Littler’s rapid ascent — becoming one of the youngest world champions and major winners in history — reflects how the modern game bridges past icons with future stars.
🎉 Legends Who Shaped Darts
From pub players to stadium heroes, these 20 names represent the pinnacle of darts. Each brought something unique: crowd-pleasing personalities, iconic rivalries, unbelievable checkouts and historic moments that fans will talk about for generations.
This list is more than statistics — it captures the history, passion and evolution of a truly global sport.
May the fantastic rise of Luke Littler touch the minds of the men & women of the Olympics to INCLUDE DARTS in the line up of Games in the near future..
phil taylor is the greatest and now player to stand on the oche and now luke littler takes up up the mantle to be the greatest and no doubt has the tools and will no doubt be pushed all the way as he has a string of great players to contend with and all are capable of beating him but only time will tell