De-code the Darts Jargon: Your Ultimate Guide to World Darts Championship Terminology

Get ready for the PDC World Darts Championship! Whether you’re a seasoned darts enthusiast or a curious newcomer, understanding the lingo is key to fully appreciating the drama and skill on display at Alexandra Palace. This comprehensive guide decodes the essential terms, ensuring you’re fluent in the language of darts before the tournament begins on December 15th.

Mastering the Basics: Key Darts Terms Explained

Let’s start with the spectacular: the

nine-darter

. This coveted feat involves checking out 501 in just nine darts – a feat of incredible accuracy and consistency. There are a staggering 3,944 possible combinations to achieve this, but the most common involve back-to-back 180s (three treble-20s) followed by a 141 checkout. Michael Smith’s nine-darter in the World Darts Championship final remains a legendary moment, immortalized by Wayne Mardle’s iconic commentary.

Next, we have the

bullseye

, the coveted center of the dartboard worth 50 points, demanding pinpoint accuracy. Surrounding it is the

outer bull

, a smaller green ring worth 25 points. Then there’s the

Big Fish

, the highest possible checkout at 170, achieved by hitting two treble-20s and the bullseye. A

Shanghai

is a stylish checkout using a single, double, and triple of the same number (like 20, T20, D20 for 120). A

Champagne Breakfast

, instead of the traditional 21 (20, 1, 5), is its upgraded version: hitting treble-20, treble-5, and treble-1. The

game shot

simply denotes the winning throw. Lastly, hitting the treble-20 is often called hitting the

lipstick

.

Understanding the Game’s Structure

A

checkout

means hitting the precise score needed to win a leg. A

leg

is a single match, starting at 501 and ending when a player successfully checks out. Longer matches are broken into

sets

, where players win by securing a majority of legs (e.g., best-of-five legs). Each number segment on the board is a

bed

, and a

break

occurs when a player who throws second wins a leg. Hitting the metal wire separating the segments is called hitting the

wire

.

Strategic Play and Scoring:

Switching

involves changing the target segment strategically based on performance, blocked darts, or required score.

Grouping

refers to how close the darts land together – a tight group indicates impressive accuracy. Aiming for the double-20 is referred to as going for

tops

.

Ton-plus

signifies scores exceeding 100, either in a single turn or as a checkout. A

Robin Hood

happens when a dart hits another dart already on the board, costing the player points. A tricky scenario is the

madhouse

, where a player leaves themselves with D1 or 1 and D1. A

bogey

is an un-checkable score, while a

bust

occurs when a player exceeds their target score. A

bounce-out

is when a dart bounces off the board and falls. The

oche

is the throwing line.

World Darts Championship: Key Dates and Where to Watch

The World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace starts December 15th and runs until January 3rd. This year’s tournament promises thrilling matches across multiple sessions, with breaks built in around Christmas. Catch all the action live on Sky Sports (check your region for broadcast details). Who will claim the Paddy Power World Darts Championship title? Tune in to find out!

With this expanded guide, you’re well-equipped to understand and enjoy the thrilling action of the World Darts Championship. Let the darts fly!