World Darts Championship: Ranking the best 10 performances ever including Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld

Paul Nicholson highlights his favourite 10 displays from down the years, including three 'golden oldies'...

Darts presenter Abigail Davies is joined by major winner, commentator and Sporting Life columnist Paul Nicholson as well as our very own resident darts expert Chris Hammer to guide you through each quarter the 96-player draw and, hopefully, predict the eventual champion.

Leading pundit and former major winner Paul Nicholson joins host Dom Newton and Sporting Life's darts expert Chris Hammer to discuss the 'darting pyramid', the importance of averages, how to crack Q School and other factors such as choosing sponsors, nicknames and walk-on music.

1. Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen (2018 semi-finals)

For me, this is the greatest match ever witnessed on the Ally Pally stage and not just for the brilliance that both players produced. It had drama in abundance due to Michael van Gerwen misses six match darts in a deciding set, including five in one leg, before Rob Cross held his nerve to reach the final on his debut.

2. Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld (2017 semi-finals)

This was as close to unplayable as you can get from Michael van Gerwen - but Raymond van Barneveld certainly gave it an incredible effort. MVG hurt Barney mid way through the match with a number of big checkouts at key times to take the match away from him and although darts is a non-contact sport, sometimes you can feel these blows! Van Gerwen's average of 114.05 was the highest ever in a World Championship and Barney's 109.34 is the highest in a defeat.

3. Fallon Sherrock v Mensur Suljovic (2020 second round)

Although Fallon Sherrock's average was 'only' 90, you've got to take into the account how much pressure she was under following her history-making exploits against Ted Evetts - not to mention the fact she was playing a major winner on the biggest stage of all. Her run captured the imagination and the atmosphere she created was almost like a final or someone hitting a nine-dart finish!

4. Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld (2009 final)

This is the definition of unplayable. We didn't really think it was possible at that time for anyone to average 110 in a final so this performance really was raising a bar to a whole new level. Taylor was invincible at this stage of his career and as Raymond van Barneveld found out, nobody could get near him.

5. Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor (World Championship final 2007)

When you look back at this game, it's always characterised as one of the greatest ever seen and was the last to be played at the Circus Tavern before the World Championship moved to the Ally Pally. Both players averaging over 100 in a match of 13 sets was like darts from another planet back then and it also had that most dramatic of endings. There's no way Raymond van Barneveld would have thought that would be his last world title so that's credit to how Phil Taylor found another level in future years.

6. John Part v Phil Taylor (World Championship final 2003)

John Part was playing exceptionally well back in 2003 despite not being known for consistently high averages and the way he out fought Phil Taylor in this final was testament to that. He got off to a great start and although Phil would inevitably claw his way back, John had the mental strength to take his chance when it arrived. The pressure must have been ridiculous on his match dart when you consider Phil hadn't lost a final since 1994!

7. Dave Chisnall v Michael van Gerwen (World Championship QF 2021)

Dave Chisnall had lost his last 27 meetings with Michael van Gerwen and very few people gave him a chance in this quarter-final - especially considering how well his opponent had played in previous rounds. He got off to the electric start everyone said he needed to and was able to maintain that all the way through with an average of 107 and 14 180s! And then there was 'that' leg...

8. Eric Bristow v Bobby George (1980 final)

This final sparked the start of a new era of darts and in Eric Bristow and Bobby George we had two superstar players who could bring the sport to new audiences. Although it wasn't Eric's highest average in a final, this performance helped him believe his own hype and the one most fans remember most.

9. Phil Taylor v Mike Gregory (1992 final)

It's my favourite match of all time and probably won't ever be surpassed! This was a step up in performance and drama to anything we'd ever seen before, and although many will remember Mike Gregory's missed match darts - you can't forget how well Phil Taylor made him pay under all the pressure over 13 sets.

10. Bobby George v Magnus Caris (1994 semi-final)

Great performances aren't always about high averages. Just look at Bobby George when he somehow came back from the brink against Magnus Caris back in 1994 with a broken back! At the time, it felt as if the whole BDO system was on Bobby's shoulders and despite all the pressure and the pain, he won nine legs in a row from 4-2 down to reach another Lakeside final. It's just a shame he wasn't in too much pain to make the final against John Part competitive.

Darts: Related content

• 2023 PDC Darts Calendar
• 2024 World Darts draw, schedule & results
• 2024 PDC Darts Calendar
• 2024 Premier League Season
• How legends would fare today
• Troubles and triumphs
• Tournament ideas for darts
• 'What If' moments in darts
• Agony of missed match darts
• Good, Bad, Ugly: Nicholson on darts shirts
• Referees in darts
• Calling the shots in darts
• Weird actions in darts
• Hidden talents in darts
• Superstitions in darts
• Routes to glory
• Paul Nicholson's five darts drills
• Paul Nicholson's five mental tips
• Paul Nicholson's five practice games
• Worst losers in darts
• World number ones in darts
• Best players never to be number one
• Do averages lie?
• Paul Nicholson's Ally Pally tales
• Watch all the Ally Pally nine-darters
• Players everyone hates to face
• Players everyone loves to face
• How to make it as a pro?
• How much money do players earn?
• Greatest darts rivalries
• Rivalries to cherish
• Be canny with counting
• Phil Taylor's greatest display
• World Cup of Great Darts performances