Sports

Archie Self Sets New Record with Televised Nine‑Darter at 16

By James Hicken

Archie Self became the youngest player to hit a televised nine‑dart finish on British TV, achieving the feat at 16 years and 345 days during the MODUS Super Series Champions Week in Portsmouth. The teenager completed the perfect leg against 38‑year‑old Daniel Ayres, hitting seven consecutive treble 20s before landing treble 19 and double 12 to finish with nine darts. Self broke Luke Littler’s previous record. Littler was 16 years and 363 days old when he hit a televised nine‑dart finish against Nathan Aspinall at the Bahrain Darts Masters in January 2024. The West Berkshire player, who started throwing darts at age two and won the 2024 WDF World Boys Championship at 15, said he was shaking after the achievement but felt his nerves helped his performance. Self beat Ayres 4‑1 to finish top of Group A and qualify for Saturday’s Champions Night. He said he is in the form of his life and had been threatening a nine‑dart finish all week.