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PAUL LIM’s extraordinary journey at Lakeside concluded with a loss in the WDF World Darts Championship final against Irish player Shane McGuirk.
The Singapore Slinger, 70 years old, aimed to make history as the oldest world champion in darts after a spectacular week in Frimley Green.
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Although Lim made a strong effort towards the end, he ultimately lost to the 29-year-old McGuirk by a score of 6-3 on the prestigious oche.
Unseeded McGuirk, also known as the Arrow, claimed his first title and took home £50,000 after losing only three sets out of 26 during the tournament.
His performance is considered one of the most dominant in the championship’s history.
Nevertheless, he fell short of becoming the first player in BDO, PDC, or WDF competitions to win a world title without losing a single set.
Legendary players Eric Bristow (BDO 1984), John Part (BDO 1994), and Phil Taylor (PDC 2001) managed their titles with just one set lost throughout their tournaments.
Lim, known for his glasses and deliberate, measured throwing style, had opportunities to secure the opening set but failed to capitalize on those chances.
Although McGuirk initially seemed poised to control the match, the largely pro-Lim crowd cheered as their champion won sets five, seven, and eight, bringing the score to 5-3.
Hope flickered for Lim as he aimed to tie the game at 5-5. Despite showing flashes of brilliance with some 180s, McGuirk steadied himself to complete the match.
A former world soft tip champion, Lim’s storied career began in 1973, and he last competed in the PDC World Darts Championship just three years ago.
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In January 1990, while at Lakeside—during the same year Phil Taylor secured his debut world title—Lim became the first player to achieve a nine-dart finish at the global level.
This achievement earned him a £52,000 prize, which was nearly double the amount received by Taylor as the champion that year.
This tournament represented the third edition of the WDF World Championships, filling the void left when the BDO disbanded in 2020.
Participants in this tournament are ineligible to compete in the upcoming PDC Worlds, which kick off at Alexandra Palace this Sunday.
Beau Greaves defended her women’s world champion title for the third consecutive year, securing a 4-1 victory against Scotland’s Sophie McKinlay, with an average of 83.92 in the final.
After his match against Lim, McGuirk reflected: “Oh my God, I don’t know what just happened there. I couldn’t be more relieved to hit top to win that.
“He applied significant pressure, hitting the 19s consistently. I had to keep reminding myself that I had the lead, and eventually, it would pay off.”
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“After the last break, I knew I had to come out swinging and finish it. I had never faced a situation like this before. The first set was very tense, but I managed to pull through.”
Lim remarked: “I want to thank the crowd for their incredible support. Even in challenging times, I never give up. I always believe in persevering in life.
“That’s the key in life. I plan to return next year.”
