Hitting a ‘9-darter’ in darts – throwing a perfect leg in just nine throws – is the sport’s ultimate achievement, a moment of pure magic that electrifies players and crowds alike. Yet, recent events reveal a fascinating and often costly paradox: the immense emotional high and subsequent adrenaline dump can severely impact a player’s performance immediately afterwards. While a testament to skill, this fleeting perfection can sometimes come at the expense of winning the actual match, as seen with top players like Josh Rock, Gian van Veen, and even Beau Greaves, who each experienced significant slumps after their flawless moments.
The Elusive 9-Darter: A Moment of Perfection
In the high-stakes world of professional darts, few moments capture the imagination quite like a ‘9-darter’. This incredible feat involves finishing a game of 501 points in the minimum possible nine darts. It requires pinpoint accuracy, nerves of steel, and a touch of genius, typically achieved by hitting two treble 20s and a double 20 (or equivalent combinations) three times in a row. It’s the equivalent of a perfect game in baseball or a 147 break in snooker – a rare and celebrated display of mastery.
However, what happens after this moment of perfection can be just as dramatic, and often, far less perfect.
The Hidden Price of Perfection: Adrenaline’s Aftermath
While the roar of the crowd and the sheer elation of hitting a 9-darter are intoxicating, this intense emotional peak can have a profound physiological and psychological impact. Known as an ‘adrenaline dump’, the sudden release and subsequent crash of adrenaline can leave players physically drained and mentally unfocused. This often leads to a noticeable drop in performance during the very next legs, potentially costing them the match.
Josh Rock’s Belfast Rollercoaster
The most recent example comes from the BetMGM Premier League in Belfast on February 26, 2026. Facing Gian van Veen, Josh Rock found himself a daunting 5-1 down in their quarter-final match. Then, in a stunning display, he struck the perfect nine-darter, igniting the arena and bringing the crowd to its feet. His celebration was wild, heartfelt, and prolonged.
- The High: Rock achieved the ultimate feat in front of his home crowd.
- The Low: Despite having the throw and a golden opportunity to close the gap to 5-3, the emotional overload proved too much. After all the chaos and energy, he stepped back to the oche and incredibly, hit just 40 with his next three darts, completely losing his rhythm.
- The Outcome: Rock ultimately lost the match, demonstrating how even the most glorious moment couldn’t prevent a performance dip when it mattered most for the immediate game.
Gian van Veen’s Final Fumble
Josh Rock’s opponent, Gian van Veen, had experienced this very phenomenon himself not long before at the SUPERBET Poland Darts Open. After hitting his own spectacular 9-darter, Van Veen also succumbed to the emotional aftermath.
- The Celebration: Like Rock, Van Veen celebrated wildly, allowing the moment to fully sink in.
- The Consequence: He later admitted, “Of course, I’m very happy to hit the nine-darter, but I think everyone noticed in the next two or three legs, I wasn’t good.”
- The Outcome: The adrenaline dump was so significant that Van Veen was unable to regain his composure or form, ultimately losing the final 8-4 to Luke Littler, who went on to lift the trophy. The perfect leg had, in a cruel twist, contributed to his defeat.
Beau Greaves: A Trailblazer’s Test
Breaking new ground, Beau Greaves became the first woman to achieve a televised 9-darter at a Players Championship event (Player Championship 6 in Leicester). Her perfect leg against Mensur Suljovic was a historic moment, but it too came with immediate challenges.
- The Historical Feat: Greaves made history with her flawless performance.
- The Aftermath: She was visibly shaken and struggled to compose herself. Her average, a measure of her scoring power, plummeted from an astonishing 167 to a mere 75.67 in the immediate aftermath, and she lost the next two legs.
- The Recovery: Crucially, Greaves showed remarkable resilience. While she noted, “It was hard to get back into the game after I’d hit it. I was shaking afterwards,” she ultimately managed to regain her focus and secured the win in the end! Her experience highlights that while the dip is common, recovery is possible for some.
The Veteran’s Edge vs. The Rising Stars
Seasoned professionals like Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, who have hit numerous 9-darters throughout their careers, often manage to recover more quickly. While they celebrate the achievement, they seem to possess an innate ability to ‘reset’ and refocus on the match at hand. For newer or less experienced players, the sheer magnitude of the moment can be overwhelming, making it harder to compartmentalize the achievement from the ongoing competition.
Is a 9-Darter Still a Rarity?
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit has seen an increasing number of 9-darters in recent years, so much so that it’s almost a disappointment if a major tournament passes without one. This rise in frequency speaks to the incredible standard of modern darts, but it also underscores the recurring question: what is the true ‘cost’ of such a perfect moment in the context of a longer match?
The Verdict: Priceless Glory, Potential Pitfall
For Josh Rock, his 9-darter in Belfast earned him a special £30,000 set of golden darts and an unforgettable memory in front of his home crowd. In his eyes, and likely for many players, that moment is indeed “Priceless.” The glory, the recognition, and the personal achievement are immense.
However, the recent examples of Rock, Van Veen, and even the initial struggles of Greaves, remind us that while a 9-darter is the pinnacle of individual performance, it often comes with a tangible cost to a player’s immediate match performance. The emotional and physical toll of such an extraordinary feat can be a significant hurdle, turning a moment of perfect glory into a strategic challenge.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
