SINCE its launch in 1998, the PDC World Grand Prix has stood apart on the darts calendar. Its unique double-in, double-out format makes demands of precision from the very first dart. Originally homed in Dublin and now in the East Midlands it has been a fan favourite throughout. Here are six defining moments.
The Inaugural Triumph (1998)
The tournament was born at the Casino Rooms in Rochester. Phil Taylor claimed the first title, defeating Rod Harrington 13-8 in a final contested under a short-lived best-of-three legs per set format. The modest £9,000 winner’s cheque and the novel double-start rule set the tone for an event that would become one of the PDC’s most distinctive majors.
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Taylor’s Tenth Title (2011)
Phil Taylor’s dominance is the tournament’s defining thread. By 2011 he already held a record haul; that year’s victory over Brendan Dolan in the final delivered his tenth World Grand Prix crown (he would later claim an eleventh in 2013). Taylor’s ability to master the awkward double-start format across more than a decade remains unmatched—eleven titles in total, still five clear of the next best.
Dolan’s Historic Nine-Darter (2011)
In the same 2011 tournament, Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan (main picture) produced one of darts’ purest moments of perfection. Facing James Wade in the semi-finals, he opened with double 20, followed with two maximums, and finished 161 on the bullseye—the first nine-darter ever achieved under the World Grand Prix’s double-in, double-out rules. The feat earned him the lasting nickname “The History Maker” with Dolan going on to reach the final, even though Taylor ultimately prevailed.
The Two Nines (2014)
Three years later the impossible happened again—twice in the same match. James Wade and Robert Thornton both hit nine-darters during their second-round clash in Dublin. Wade struck first; Thornton, who had buried his mother earlier that day, answered in kind. It remains the only time two different players have thrown perfect legs in a single World Grand Prix match, and one of the rarest achievements in the double-start format.
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Van Gerwen’s Breakthrough and Reign
Michael van Gerwen announced himself as Taylor’s successor by winning the 2012 title. He went on to collect six World Grand Prix crowns in total (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022), establishing himself as the clear second force in the event’s history. His success underlined that the double-start challenge could be mastered by a new generation of scorers and finishers.
A New Era of First-Time Champions
The third era of the Grand Prix era has delivered a batch of fresh, and so far shorter, stories. Robert Thornton’s 2015 victory over van Gerwen, Daryl Gurney’s 2017 triumph, Gerwyn Price’s 2020 win, Jonny Clayton’s 2021 success, Luke Humphries’ 2023 title, Mike De Decker’s narrative breaking 2024 breakthrough, and Luke Littler’s emphatic 2025 victory over Humphries have all expanded the roll of honour. These wins prove the World Grand Prix continues to reward anyone with it’s unique demands and remains capable of crowning unlikely or emerging stars.
From Taylor’s early stranglehold through rare nine-dart perfection to the rise of new champions, the World Grand Prix has consistently delivered drama that only its unique format can produce.
Images: PDC
