In a historic moment for American darts, Chris Lim, son of darts legend Paul Lim, has won the WDF World Masters in Las Vegas, becoming the first American ever to claim this prestigious title. He triumphed over Belgium’s Brian Raman in a nail-biting 7-6 final. The event also crowned new champions in other categories: Gemma Hayter in the Women’s competition, Benjamin Dopfer in the Boys’, and Ruby Grey in the Girls’. Lim’s victory not only secures him a significant prize but also marks his debut at the iconic Lakeside World Championship, continuing a remarkable family legacy.
Chris Lim’s Historic Triumph: A New American Master
The atmosphere in Las Vegas was electric as Chris Lim stepped up to claim his biggest title to date. The final against Belgium’s Brian Raman was a true spectacle, with both players trading blows throughout. Though Lim started the match, Raman quickly secured an early break. The lead shifted multiple times, culminating in a thrilling 7-6 scoreline that underscored the evenly matched contest.
Lim showcased exceptional form, registering four maximum 180 scores compared to Raman’s two. His average for the final was a solid 87.80, against Raman’s 81.06. The highest checkout of the match also belonged to Lim, a superb 124 finish, outshining Raman’s impressive 110. This victory not only adds $12,000 to Lim’s name but, more importantly, etches his name into the history books as the first American to win the WDF World Masters. This achievement surpasses Larry Butler’s 2015 run, where he reached the final but ultimately lost to Glen Durrant.
Continuing the Lim Legacy
The win is particularly poignant given Chris’s lineage. His father, Paul Lim, is a true darts icon, celebrated for his appearances at major tournaments like the PDC World Cup and PDC World Championship. Paul Lim reached the last 16 of the World Masters four times in the 1980s and was a runner-up at the WDF World Championship in 2024. Now, Chris will follow in his father’s footsteps, making his highly anticipated debut at Lakeside this year.
The Road to the Final: Men’s Open Category
The Men’s Open category was guaranteed a new champion this year, as last year’s Dutch titleholder, Jimmy van Schie, was absent. Fifteen other Dutch players competed, with Stefan Schroder making the deepest run, reaching the semi-finals before being stopped by eventual champion Chris Lim. On his way, Schroder defeated notable players like Turkey’s Mürsel Yavuz and England’s Reece Pauling.
Chris Lim’s impressive path to the final included victories over:
- Ethan De Veyra
- Boris Krčmar
- Haupai Puha
- David Fatum
- Stefan Schroder (semi-final)
Brian Raman’s journey to the championship match saw him overcome:
- Michael De Meyer
- Ryan O’Connor
- Jeff Smith (a former finalist)
- Paul Krohne (Dutch Open champion)
- Sean Fisher (semi-final)
Other Champions Crowned in Las Vegas
Women’s World Masters: Gemma Hayter Dominates
England’s Gemma Hayter secured her first WDF major title, defeating Italy’s Aurora Fochesato 6-3 in the Women’s final. Fochesato showed moments of brilliance, including a 120 checkout, but Hayter’s consistent performance, marked by an 81.55 average and two 180s, proved too strong. Hayter’s route to the final included victories over formidable opponents like Deta Hedman and Rhian O’Sullivan. Hayter is no stranger to success, having won two PDC Women’s Series events in 2024 and even competing in the prestigious PDC World Championship in 2026.
Junior Champions: Dopfer and Grey Shine
In the Boys’ competition, Germany’s Benjamin Dopfer emerged victorious, defeating his compatriot Eric Petereit 6-2 in the final. Dopfer displayed an impressive average of 84.93 and sealed his win with a fantastic 134 finish.
The Girls’ title went to England’s Ruby Grey, who delivered a dominant performance to beat fellow countrywoman Paige Pauling 5-0. This win was particularly sweet for Grey, who was a losing finalist last year, while Pauling had previously claimed the Girls’ title in both 2022 and 2023. Grey’s victory marks a significant step forward in her promising career.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
