Luke Woodhouse Joins the Elite: A New Chapter in Darts History
The darts world was buzzing on Thursday night as England’s Luke Woodhouse delivered a moment of pure magic. In the opening match of the 2026 European Championship in Dortmund, Woodhouse achieved the seemingly impossible: a nine-darter.
This perfect leg came during his impressive 6-3 victory over Dutch opponent Dirk van Duijvenbode. Woodhouse’s precision and nerve secured his place in an incredibly exclusive club, becoming just the fifth player in the tournament’s history to hit a nine-dart finish.
His achievement marks the first European Championship nine-darter since Jose de Sousa’s in 2020, following earlier perfect legs from Adrian Lewis, Michael van Gerwen, and Kyle Anderson.
The Uncanny Connection: Always Against a Dutch Opponent
While the rarity of a nine-darter itself is remarkable, there’s an even more peculiar detail that links all five of these historic moments:
- Every single European Championship nine-darter has been thrown against a Dutch opponent.
- This includes darts icon Raymond van Barneveld, who has unfortunately been on the receiving end twice.
Let’s take a closer look at the four perfect legs that preceded Woodhouse’s unforgettable addition to this unique list.
Adrian Lewis: The First to Strike Gold (2011)
Adrian “Jackpot” Lewis was the first to achieve perfection at the European Championship. In July 2011, during the tournament’s fourth edition, he landed his second televised nine-darter against none other than Raymond van Barneveld.
Lewis was in formidable form that year, having already won his first World Championship and reached the Premier League final. His perfect leg put him 10-7 ahead, seemingly on the brink of victory. However, “Barney” fought back valiantly, forcing a deciding leg. Lewis ultimately prevailed 11-10, setting up a final clash with Phil Taylor.
Taylor, showcasing his legendary prowess, secured an 11-8 victory with a superb 109.29 average, claiming his fourth consecutive European Championship title.
Michael van Gerwen: Dutch Dominance, Dutch Victim (2014)
Just three years later, Van Barneveld found himself facing another semi-final nine-darter, this time from his fellow Dutchman, Michael van Gerwen.
“The Green Machine” was rapidly establishing himself as the sport’s dominant force, having won his first World Championship earlier in 2014. Van Gerwen was trailing 4-2 when he produced his perfect leg, starting with scores of 177 and 180 before flawlessly checking out 144.
This momentum-shifting moment turned the match in his favor, leading to an 11-6 recovery win. Van Gerwen then comfortably beat Terry Jenkins 11-4 in the final, securing his first European Championship crown. He went on to win the next three editions, completing an astonishing run of four consecutive titles between 2014 and 2017.
Kyle Anderson: A Memorable Moment for “The Original” (2017)
The tournament’s third nine-darter also occurred in a semi-final, courtesy of Australia’s Kyle “The Original” Anderson. Anderson was enjoying his best-ever run at a PDC major, having defeated several top players to reach a showdown with the reigning champion, Michael van Gerwen.
Facing Van Gerwen was always a monumental challenge, but Anderson pushed the world number one to his absolute limit. His perfect leg reduced the deficit to 6-5, fueling a dramatic finish that saw Anderson force a deciding leg. Ultimately, Van Gerwen edged through 11-10 before claiming his fourth successive European Championship title.
This European Championship nine-darter remains one of the standout achievements in the career of the late Australian darts star.
Jose de Sousa: The Maverick’s Mark (2020)
Jose “The Special One” de Sousa arrived at the 2020 European Championship in outstanding form, and he wasted no time in making his mark. In just the second leg of his opening match against Jeffrey de Zwaan, the Portuguese thrower hit a spectacular nine-darter.
This was unique as it was the first European Championship nine-darter to occur outside of the semi-finals. De Sousa went on to secure a 6-3 victory, though his run ended in the next round. Less than a month later, De Sousa achieved an even greater breakthrough, winning his first major title at the Grand Slam of Darts, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite.
The Enduring Legacy of the Nine-Darter
Six years after De Sousa’s perfect leg, Luke Woodhouse has now added his name to this extraordinary club. Five players, five perfect legs – and an undeniable, curious link to Dutch opponents every single time.
These moments highlight the incredible skill and pressure of professional darts, where perfection is rare but always spectacular.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
