The establishment of the British Darts Organisation (BDO) in 1973 pre-empted the professionalisation of the sport. Official tournaments soon became commonplace, enabling competent darts players to compete with one another in formal events.
Trailblazers of the sport – such as English duo Eric Bristow and John Lowe – would inspire a new generation of darts competitors, as pub players became polished professionals on the BDO circuit. Frustrated with BDO’s governance of the sport, 16 ‘rebels’ broke away to form the WDC (now named the PDC), an alternate regulatory organisation.
After PDC founding member Phil 'The Power' Taylor established his hegemony throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, a handful of world-class players have enjoyed periods of dominance on the elite stage. As the popularity of darts continues to proliferate, a fresh crop of rising stars delivers a constant stream of thrilling matches, as the likes of Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, and teenage sensation Luke Littler battle for supremacy.
So, who should feature in our list of the top ten darts players of all time? Do the iconic figures of previous generations deserve to dominate, or have the new kids on the block already done enough to dislodge their predecessors?
Explanation of ranking criteria
Whilst it’s almost impossible to compile an objective list of the world’s all-time best darts players, we can use several quantifiable measures to help us determine a definitive set of rankings.
The volume of professional titles won provides the most obvious barometer of capability, enabling us to understand the level of success each player has achieved. Given that PDC premier events are widely accepted to be more difficult to win than their WDF (partner organisation to the now defunct BDO) counterparts, champions of the former should receive additional credit. Furthermore, world championship crowns – whether acquired in pre-1993 WDF editions or during the PDC era – must be considered superior titles to those claimed in other televised events.
Those who have set tournament records and received personal awards demand an appropriate amount of respect, as these achievements highlight an individual’s superiority over their peers. The consistency and longevity of each player should also be taken into account, as sustaining peak performance over an extended period of time is perhaps the most challenging aspect of any sport.
We also need to appreciate the influence and impact of past and present players, as shaping the role, function, and future of the sport is arguably more important than being the best at the oche. While some have left lasting legacies that will serve to inspire those at the grassroots level, others will be remembered for entertaining audiences with momentary flashes of brilliance.
All of these varying aspects have been considered while configuring our top ten list, enabling us to produce an accurate ranking of the best darts players of all time.
The Top 10 Best Darts Players of All Time
So, who made the cut?
10. Adrian Lewis
A former understudy of darts legend Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis became the youngest PDC World Champion in history after scooping the 2011 title at just 25 years of age, a record later bettered by both Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler. A nine-dart finish in the final helped him achieve this landmark triumph, as the Stoke-born archer overcame Scotsman Gary Anderson in 12 sets.
Having retained his world crown the following year, ‘Jackpot’ won the 2013 European Championship before annihilating fellow countryman Terry Jenkins in the 2014 UK Open final at Minehead. Although failing to progress beyond the quarter-final stage of any televised major since 2021, the experienced Englishman still commands huge respect on the PDC circuit.
9. Luke Littler
Bursting onto the scene with a rip-roaring performance at the 2024 World Championships, Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm – despite only recently finishing compulsory education.
During his scintillating debut appearance at the Alexandra Palace, the ‘Nuke’ defeated previous world champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross before being edged out by Luke Humphries in a thrilling final. However, the Warrington-born prodigy would return a year later to scoop darts’ top prize, hitting five 100+ averages along the way.
Although yet to exit his teenage years, Littler has already acquired an array of prestigious titles. Throughout a whirlwind 2024, the talented right-hander won the World Series Finals before claiming the Grand Slam of Darts crown, and also emerged triumphant in the Austrian and Belgian legs of the European Tour. However, the highlight of an immensely impressive year arguably came early on in the summer, as Littler overcame Michael Smith and familiar foe Luke Humphries to become Premier League Darts champion at the first time of asking.
8. Dennis Priestley
After catching the eye with an emphatic victory over five-time World Champion Eric Bristow at Lakeside, Dennis Priestley would routinely add silverware to a bustling personal trophy cabinet.
Part of the splinter group that established the WDC in 1993, the decorated Yorkshireman enjoyed an intense rivalry with Phil Taylor that spanned the best part of a decade. Although he would often be forced to play second fiddle to his gifted adversary, Priestley did manage to defeat Taylor in the inaugural PDC World Championship final. As a consequence, the ‘Menace’ became the first player to win world titles aligned to both PDC and WDF codes.
Committed, determined, and able to maintain his concentration at the oche like few others could, Priestly’s admirable attributes enabled him to prolong his professional career. Five years before his eventual retirement in 2014, the 1992 World Masters champion was deservedly inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame.
7. John Part
Although younger fans will perhaps best know John Part for supporting Sky Sports’ darts coverage, the trailblazing Torontonian was once a commanding force on both WDF and PDC circuits. Before assuming a place in the PDC Hall of Fame in 2017, ‘Darth Maple’ – who arrived on stage to the ominous tones of Star Wars’ Imperial March – set a series of ground-breaking records.
After becoming the first non-European player to become a WDF World Champion in 1994, Part went on to achieve the same feat on the PDC stage nine years later. Having earned these titles at Lakeside and the Circus Tavern respectively, secured a third world crown in front of a boisterous Ally Pally crowd in 2008, consequently becoming the only archer to win such awards at three different venues.
The Canadian’s only other major victory ironically came on North American soil, having secured a 6-3 victory over Raymond van Barneveld in the final of the Las Vegas-hosted 2006 Desert Classic.
6. Gary Anderson
A technically proficient player with a textbook throwing action, it’s a pleasure to watch Gary Anderson ply his trade. The ‘Flying Scotsman’ made his debut at Lakeside over 23 years ago, but wouldn’t lift a world championship trophy until January 2015. After waiting an age to secure his first title, Anderson would retain the PDC world crown in 2016, avenging his loss to Adrian Lewis in the 2011 final by defeating the Englishman in 12 sets at the Ally Pally.
Although still a master of his craft, the 54-year-old archer – who still has a notable presence on the professional circuit – arguably reached the peak of his career in 2018. Having already triumphed at the World Matchplay and UK Open earlier in the year, Anderson won the Champions League of Darts to cap off a spectacular ten-month period in style.
5. John Lowe
An extraordinary example of enduring talent, ‘Old Stoneface’ mixed it with the world’s best throughout the entirety of a remarkable 30-year career. After losing to the legendary Leighton Rees in the final of the WDF’s inaugural marquee event, Lowe went on to compete in a staggering 28 consecutive World Championships across both codes of the sport.
In addition to being the first player to hit a nine-dart finish on television (an accolade that netted Lowe a princely sum of £102,000), the Derbyshire-born darter would also break new ground by winning world titles across three separate decades, his third and final crown coming just months before the infamous introduction of the WDC.
Having leveraged his sporting profile to support various charity campaigns, Lowe would receive an MBE in 2019 for both his service to darts and philanthropic efforts.
4. Raymond van Barneveld
Perhaps one of the most likeable characters to have ever graced the oche, Raymond van Barneveld is serenaded by his loyal band of fans – the self-entitled ‘Barney Army’ – at every event he attends. Largely accountable for the Netherlands' new-found love affair with darts, the domineeering Dutchman won the first of his five world titles at Lakeside in 1998. He acquired the last of these crowns following an epic sudden-death duel with Phil Taylor, in a match many consider to be the best in the sport’s history.
Having returned to the circuit after initially announcing his retirement in 2019, the veteran archer has since navigated his way back into the world’s top 32 players. After being unable to advance past the fourth round of any tournament in 2024, Barney will be hoping to re-capture his form this season.
3. Michael van Gerwen
Having won over 150 professional tournaments throughout his glittering 20-year career, few players can rival Michael van Gerwen’s personal trophy haul. Only the second player in history to secure multiple World Championship, World Matchplay, Premier League Darts, World Grand Prix, European Championships, and Players Championship titles, the ‘Mighty Mike’ is truly a giant of the sport.
Relying on his instinctive style and in-game intelligence to navigate his way through challenging moments, van Gerwen is able to hit huge checkouts at key moments of a match. The 35-year-old Dutchman recorded the highest televised three-dart average in a Premier League meeting with Michael Smith in February 2016, just over three years after almost delivering an incredible back-to-back nine-dart finish at the Alexandra Palace.
2. Eric Bristow
A bona fide legend of darts, the ‘Crafty Cockney’ was essential to the sport’s booming success throughout the 1980s as broadcasters cottoned on to its bourgeoning popularity. Viewers would be enchanted by his immensely unorthodox style, with Bristow’s outstretched pinky causing consternation and admiration in equal measure.
No player has ever attained more WDF World Masters titles, having won the tournament on five occasions within an extremely successful seven-year spell. The Hackney-born hero was also a five-time World Champion and therefore was a leading light during the initial stages of the professional darts movement.
Although he sadly passed away in April 2018, memories of his iconic performances will be cherished amongst those lucky enough to witness Bristow in action.
1. Phil Taylor
Undoubtedly the greatest player of all time, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor was able to swat aside world-class opponents with seemingly consummate ease. At the very start of what would become an astonishing career, Taylor would lift the WDF World Championship trophy on his debut appearance at Lakeside in 1990. A seemingly endless deluge of silverware would follow, as his personal collection of several PDC premier event titles reached double figures.
Shortly after becoming the first and only player to ever deliver back-to-back nine-dart finishes in a televised event, the ‘Crafty Potter’ would feature on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Despite finishing runner-up to distinguished jockey AP McCoy, Taylor had long since confirmed his status as one of Britain’s leading sportsmen.
The 16-time World Champion eventually retired following his defeat in the 2018 Alexandra Palace showpiece, ironically losing to debutant Rob Cross almost three decades after his own rookie triumph.
Taylor’s list of competitive records and awards is far too extensive to include in a brief summary of his exploits, but here’s a small selection of his finest achievements:
- PDC Player of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
- PDC Fans’ Player of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- PDC Hall of Fame: Inaugurated in 2011
- Most televised nine-dart finishes: 11
- Highest three-dart average in PDC World Championship final: 110.94 (vs.Raymond van Barneveld, 2009)
- Highest lifetime three-dart average of any player: 100.68
Honourable mentions
As is the case when compiling any list of top sportspeople, there will inevitably be several headline casualties. A handful of players can count themselves unlucky not to be included in our top ten rankings, and therefore deserve some sort of formal recognition.
Martin Adams
Maintaining his affiliation to the WDF while others focused exclusively on PDC events, Martin Adams had the privilege of captaining the DBO’s English national team for two full decades.
Renowned for his light-hearted approach and ability to remain calm under pressure, ‘Wolfie’ has been involved in some of the most exhilarating matches in recent times. After racing into a 6-0 lead over Phill Nixon in the 2007 WDF World Championship final, the four-time Dutch Open winner lost the following six sets before securing victory in a nerve-shredding decider.
Preparing to celebrate his 69th birthday in the summer, Adams still competes professionally by virtue of his participation in the World Seniors Darts Championship.
Peter Wright
Although famed for his mohawk haircut and ultra-colourful attire, Peter Wright is a serious competitor at the oche. The Scottish sharpshooter has won eight PDC premier events, most recently clinching his second European Championship title in Dortmund.
An inspiration to any player experiencing limited success in the early stages of their career, ‘Snakebite’ secured his maiden World Championship crown exactly 25 years on from his first and only appearance at Lakeside.
James Wade
Arguably the best player to have never won a World Championship title, James Wade has suffered four semi-final losses at the Ally Pally. However, the 41-year-old Englishman has picked up plenty of silverware in other tournaments, most notably as a three-time winner of the UK Open.
Having struck three nine-dart finishes in 2006 and defeated seasoned campaigner Terry Jenkins in the World Matchplay final the following year, the ‘Bull’ has perhaps not fulfilled his early potential. Nevertheless, Wade still finds himself amongst the highest-ranked players on the planet, currently positioned in eleventh place in the PDC Order of Merit.
Jocky Wilson
A cult hero to many darts enthusiasts across the UK and beyond, the late great Jocky Wilson was a charismatic figure with an endearingly rugged appearance. The swashbuckling Scotsman often locked horns with fellow fan favourite Eric Bristow, defeating him in the 1989 showpiece at Lakeside to claim a second WDF World Championship crown.
Part of the rebellious group that cut ties with the BDO, Wilson increasingly suffered from health problems as the sport’s new golden era began to gather momentum. Several modest performances at WDC events – peaking with a quarter-final appearance at the World Matchplay – then followed, but the Kirkcaldy-born archer faded into the background after being diagnosed with diabetes in 1995.
One of four former players to have their names engraved on the World Seniors Darts Championship trophy, Wilson is honoured alongside old adversary Eric Bristow, Welsh hero Leighton Rees, and Andy ‘the Viking’ Fordham.
Final thoughts
Although darts has been blessed with some remarkable competitors over the course of the last half-century, the sport’s vibrant grassroots movement is set to produce a flurry of future stars. With a productive talent pipeline now firmly in place, the next Luke Littler may already be waiting in the wings.
As the 2025 season is still very much in its infancy, our list could look very different this time next year. However, one thing seemingly remains certain: Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor won’t be knocked off his perch…