Paul Lim has once again etched his name in the history books by defeating Jeffrey de Graaf at Ally Pally. The 71-year-old has solidified his position as the oldest player to secure a victory at the PDC World Championship.
In a surprising turn of events, Lim outplayed his opponent De Graaf, who is 35 years his junior, with a 3-1 win to advance to the second round. This achievement comes 44 years after Lim’s initial appearance at the World Championship.
Having qualified for Ally Pally for the first time since the 2022 World Championship, where he was eliminated in the first round by Joe Murnam, Lim displayed a solid performance with an average of 86.52 and two 180s, which proved sufficient to overcome a below-par De Graaf.
Following his victory, Lim expressed his gratitude to the supportive crowd, stating, “First and foremost, I’m thankful to be here and I’m thankful to this crowd behind me. Just to make it here is an achievement.” He emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities in the game, acknowledging the occasional missed shots.
Notably, Lim’s previous notable win was in the prior year’s edition against the current World No.2 player, Luke Humphries. If Humphries secures a victory against Ted Evetts later in the evening, the two players will face off in the second round once again.
Reflecting on his potential upcoming match against Humphries, Lim praised his opponent’s dedication and skill, stating, “Luke Humphries, I’ve been watching the last few years and he puts so much effort and time into what he’s doing. He’s a good guy, a gentleman, and a great player. I just hope on a given day it can happen again. He’s good but can be beaten.”
Known as the Singapore Slinger, Lim has become a legendary figure in the world of darts due to his remarkable longevity in the sport. His historic achievement includes being the first player to achieve a nine-darter at the World Championship during the 1990 BDO tournament, where he defeated Jack McKenna and earned a £52,000 bonus.