In the electrifying world of professional darts, where precision meets high-stakes drama under the glaring lights of arenas like Ally Pally, few moments rival the thrill of a nine-darter. It’s the darting equivalent of a hole-in-one or a perfect 147 in snooker—a flawless leg where a player starts at 501 points and checks out exactly with just nine darts, each one landing with surgical accuracy. But even among these rare gems, there’s a shot so extraordinarily demanding that it eclipses the nine-darter in difficulty and infrequency. Dubbed the “Super 9” or “141 outshot perfection,” this feat involves hitting three consecutive 60-point maximums (treble 20s) in the first two visits, leaving precisely 141 points, then nailing the classic outshot of treble 17, treble 18, and double 18—all in a single visit. It’s a sequence that demands not just skill, but an almost superhuman fusion of focus, rhythm, and nerve.
Imagine the scene: the crowd hushed, the opponent’s eyes widening, as the dartboard becomes a battlefield of millimeters. This isn’t just about scoring big; it’s about orchestrating a symphony of nine darts that leaves no room for error. The nine-darter itself is a statistical unicorn—over 100 have been recorded on television since John Lowe’s groundbreaking effort in 1984—but the Super 9? Only four players in the entire history of the sport have ever pulled it off under the pressure of televised competition. Each occurrence is etched into darts lore, celebrated as much for its improbability as its beauty.
The first to conquer this Everest of darts was none other than the legendary Phil Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest player the game has ever seen. Known as “The Power,” Taylor achieved the feat during the 2009 PDC World Grand Prix in Ireland, a tournament renowned for its double-in, double-out format that amps up the tension from the very first throw. Facing off against a formidable opponent, Taylor opened with two blistering 180s, the thud of darts hitting treble 20s echoing like thunder. Then came the 141 checkout: T17, T18, D18 in rapid succession. The arena erupted as he sealed the leg, but Taylor later reflected on the moment with characteristic humility. “It was one of those nights where everything just clicked,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of a man who’d dominated the oche for two decades. “You don’t plan for something like that; it just happens when you’re in the zone. But honestly, it’s harder than it looks— that double 18 felt like it was moving!”
Taylor’s achievement set an impossibly high bar, one that wouldn’t be touched for years. The sport evolved in the interim, with new stars like Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Nine-darters became more frequent, thanks to improved equipment, relentless practice regimens, and the global explosion of darts’ popularity. Yet the Super 9 remained a ghost, whispered about in pubs and practiced in vain by pros during late-night sessions. It wasn’t until 2019 that the second hero emerged: Gerwyn Price, the Welsh powerhouse whose ice-cool demeanor hides a fiery competitive spirit.
Price’s moment of magic came at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, England, where the atmosphere crackles with the energy of a thousand fervent fans. Locked in a tense battle, Price mirrored Taylor’s path—two 180s to strip the score down, then the audacious 141 finish. As the final dart kissed the double 18 wire and stuck, the roar was deafening. Price, ever the showman, pumped his fist toward the crowd, his face a mix of disbelief and elation. “I couldn’t believe it when it went in,” he admitted afterward, still buzzing from the adrenaline. “I’ve hit plenty of nine-darters, but this? This is next level. It’s like threading a needle while someone’s shaking the board. Makes you appreciate how tough this game really is.” For Price, who would go on to claim multiple major titles, including two nine-darters in a single Premier League night in 2022, the Super 9 stood as a pinnacle, a reminder that even at the elite level, vulnerability lurks in every throw.
The drought stretched on, fueling endless debates in darts circles about whether the feat was becoming obsolete in an era of tungsten-tipped innovation and data-driven training. Amateurs and pros alike pored over footage, dissecting angles and grips, but the board stayed unforgiving. Then, in 2021, the third crack in the armor appeared courtesy of Joe Cullen, the affable Englishman whose unassuming style belies his lethal accuracy. During a European Tour event in Germany, Cullen unleashed the Super 9 against a stunned field. The sequence unfolded like poetry: 180, 180, then the 141 outshot that seemed to defy physics. Cullen’s reaction was pure joy—a broad grin and a leap that nearly cleared the oche. “It was surreal,” he shared in the aftermath, his Lancashire accent thick with pride. “You dream about nine-darters, but this is something else. The pressure on that last dart… it’s why we play, innit? To chase those impossible moments.”
Fast-forward to 2025, and the darts world witnessed its fourth—and most recent—Super 9, courtesy of world number one Luke Humphries. The softly spoken Englishman, fresh off a dominant run that included a nine-darter of his own at the Grand Slam of Darts just days earlier, etched his name into immortality during a high-profile qualifier. In a match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, Humphries delivered the perfect storm: two maximums followed by the flawless 141 checkout. The final dart’s flight seemed to hang in slow motion before embedding perfectly, sparking pandemonium. Humphries, known for his composed celebrations, allowed himself a rare exuberant shout. “What a feeling—that’s the stuff of legends,” he exclaimed post-match, his eyes alight with the thrill. “Hitting it live, with everyone watching, it’s harder than any nine-darter I’ve done. You feel every heartbeat, but when it lands, it’s pure magic.”
These four feats—Taylor in 2009, Price in 2019, Cullen in 2021, and Humphries in 2025—paint a tapestry of darts’ golden era, where legends are forged not just in titles won, but in moments of transcendent brilliance. What makes the Super 9 so brutally challenging? Beyond the raw mechanics—nine darts totaling exactly 501, with the outshot requiring pinpoint hits on progressively trickier beds—lies the psychological toll. Pros estimate the odds at one in thousands, even for the best. “It’s not just skill; it’s mental steel,” Taylor once mused. “One wobble, and it’s gone.” Yet, in a sport that’s ballooned in popularity, with viewership soaring and young talents like Luke Littler (who notched four nine-darters in 2024 alone) storming the scene, the Super 9 endures as a beacon of aspiration.
As darts hurtles toward another blockbuster World Championship, fans can’t help but wonder: who will be the fifth? Will it be a veteran like van Gerwen, chasing one last hurrah, or a prodigy breaking records before breakfast? Whatever the answer, these stories remind us why darts captivates—it’s a game of inches, dreams, and the occasional miracle. In the oche’s glare, heroes rise, and the impossible becomes etched in history, one perfect dart at a time.
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