Few darts players can say they changed the sport with a single throw. Paul Lim did exactly that in 1990, landing the first nine-dart finish ever seen in a World Championship — a moment that still echoes through oche history.
Age: 70 (born 25 January 1954) ·
Nationality: Singaporean ·
Nickname: The Singapore Slinger ·
Nine-dart finish: First in PDC World Championship (1990) ·
PDC World Series ranking: 14 (as of 2025) ·
Career titles: 41 tournament wins
Quick snapshot
- Paul Lim Leong Hwa was born on 25 January 1954 in Singapore (Wikipedia)
- He hit the first nine-dart finish in a World Championship in 1990 (BBC Sport)
- He has 41 career tournament wins (Target Darts)
- Exact net worth is not publicly confirmed
- Details of his wife May’s background are not widely reported
- Whether he will continue competing beyond 2025
- Continued participation in PDC Asian Tour events
- Possible return to World Championship qualifying
- Growing legacy as a pioneer for Asian darts
Six key facts that define Paul Lim’s profile:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Lim Leong Hwa |
| Date of birth | 25 January 1954 |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Nickname | The Singapore Slinger |
| Highest PDC ranking | 14 (World Series of Darts, 2025) |
| Nine-dart finish | 1990 PDC World Championship vs. Jack McKenna (Wikipedia) |
What is Paul Lim famous for?
The first nine-dart finish in World Championship history
On the grandest stage in 1990, Paul Lim stepped up to the oche at the BDO World Darts Championship and made darts history. He threw the first televised nine-dart finish in a World Championship, a perfect leg of 501 points achieved in just nine darts. The feat came during his second-round match against Jack McKenna (Wikipedia). BBC Sport noted that Lim arrived at Frimley Green in 1990 as “a familiar face to darts followers but not yet a star name” (BBC Sport). That changed instantly.
- First player ever to hit a nine-darter in a World Championship (BBC Sport)
- Still the oldest player to hit a nine-darter in a world championship
- Nearly hit another nine-darter at age 63 in 2017 (Sporting Life)
Lim’s 1990 nine-darter remains the defining moment of his career — and a milestone that every darts fan knows. For Singaporean sports fans, it’s a source of national pride that a local player achieved what no one had before.
Longevity in professional darts (over 40 years)
Few athletes compete at a world-championship level across five decades. Lim debuted at the World Championship in 1982 (Sporting Life) and was still winning matches in 2025. BBC Sport reported that at age 71, he became the oldest competitor to win a match at the PDC World Championship, a victory coming nearly 36 years after his historic nine-dart finish. Target Darts describes him as “one of the most iconic figures in darts with a career spanning more than four decades” (Target Darts).
“one of the most iconic figures in darts with a career spanning more than four decades”
— Target Darts
- Competed across BDO, PDC, and WDF circuits (Target Darts)
- 41 tournament wins across his career (Target Darts)
- Oldest match-winner in PDC World Championship history at age 71 (BBC Sport)
Representing Singapore internationally
Lim’s international career took an unusual path. According to TODAY, he represented Papua New Guinea in the early 1980s and won the 1980 WDF Pacific Cup singles title. He also briefly played under U.S. colors before returning to Singapore. German Wikipedia notes that he competed internationally for four different nations (German Wikipedia). Since then, he has been the face of Singaporean darts globally.
Is Paul Lim married?
Who is Paul Lim’s wife?
Based on available sources, Paul Lim is married to a woman named May. Her background and personal details have not been widely reported. What is known is that May has been a steady presence in his life, though specific public information about her remains limited. The Straits Times has mentioned her in coverage of Lim’s career (The Straits Times), but she keeps a low profile.
For fans curious about Lim’s personal life, the gap in public information about his wife reflects the privacy boundaries he maintains — a contrast to his public darts career spanning five decades.
Does Paul Lim have children?
Yes. Paul Lim has a son named Chris Lim, who has followed his father into professional darts. The Straits Times has reported on the father-son duo competing together (The Straits Times). This makes the Lim family one of the few father-son pairs in competitive darts.
The pattern: While Lim’s wife stays out of the spotlight, his son has embraced the sport publicly — continuing the darts lineage.
Is Chris Lim related to Paul Lim?
Chris Lim’s darts career
Chris Lim is the son of Paul Lim, and both have competed in tournaments together. Chris has played in events on the PDC Asian Tour, sharing the stage with his father. The father-son dynamic adds a layer of family history to the sport — a rarity in professional darts where generational players are uncommon.
The Straits Times (Singapore’s leading English-language newspaper) covered their appearances in Asian Tour events, noting that Paul’s experience has been a resource for Chris as he builds his own career.
Father-son dynamic in darts
Unlike many sports where family dynasties are common, darts has few examples of fathers and sons competing professionally. The Lims stand out. Paul has spoken about the pride of seeing his son take up the sport, though specific quotes from Chris on playing alongside his father have been reported.
The trade-off: For Singaporean darts fans, having two Lims on the circuit doubles the reason to follow the Asian Tour — but it also raises expectations that Chris will match his father’s historic achievements, a heavy legacy to carry. For a deeper look at his career milestones, visit the Paul Lim nine-darter biography career personal life page.
Where does Paul Lim live?
Paul Lim’s nationality and residence
Paul Lim is Singaporean by birth. However, his darts career has taken him around the world. According to The Straits Times, he returned to Singapore to work as a chef at the Marco Polo Hotel after about six years in England. He later worked in Papua New Guinea, which is how he came to represent that nation early in his career. His current residence is Singapore, where he remains active in the local darts scene and continues to compete in Asian Tour events.
Early career in London
Lim’s journey into darts began in an unexpected place. The German Wikipedia article states he moved to England at age 20 to train as a cook (German Wikipedia). BBC Sport reports he was introduced to darts while working as a chef in a west London pub (BBC Sport). TODAY (Singapore news outlet) adds that he picked up darts at age 20 after moving to England for study following National Service.
The catch: Without that London pub, one of darts’ most iconic moments might never have happened.
Did Paul Lim win the darts?
Major tournament wins
Paul Lim’s most significant tournament victory came in 1990 when he won the WDF World Cup singles title. He did not win the BDO World Championship — despite the nine-darter, he did not take the overall title that year. However, his career includes 41 tournament wins (Target Darts), with many on the Asian Tour and other international events.
- 1990 WDF World Cup singles champion
- 1980 WDF Pacific Cup singles title (while representing Papua New Guinea, per TODAY)
- Multiple PDC Asian Tour event wins
- 41 total career tournament wins
Nine-dart finish legacy
The nine-darter remains the crown jewel of Lim’s legacy. It came against Jack McKenna in the second round of the 1990 BDO World Darts Championship (Wikipedia). Sporting Life notes that in 2017, at age 63, Lim nearly hit another nine-darter at the PDC World Darts Championship (Sporting Life), proving his precision has endured.
Recent matches (e.g., vs Luke Humphries)
At the 2024 PDC World Championship, Paul Lim faced Luke Humphries, one of the modern era’s top players. While Lim lost the match, the contest drew attention because of the age gap — Lim was 70 at the time, while Humphries was in his prime. The match highlighted both Lim’s longevity and the generational shift in the sport. BBC Sport framed it as a symbolic passing of the torch moment (BBC Sport).
“Lim arrived at Frimley Green in 1990 as a familiar face to darts followers but not yet a star name.”
— BBC Sport
es.wikipedia.org, dartn.de, bbc.co.uk, globaldarts.de, medieforum.dk
Frequently asked questions
What darts does Paul Lim use?
Paul Lim uses Target Darts equipment, as he is sponsored by the brand. His signature darts are available through Target Darts.
How did Paul Lim get into darts?
He was introduced to the sport while working as a chef in a west London pub after moving to England at age 20 (BBC Sport).
What is Paul Lim’s highest checkout?
His highest checkout is 170, achieved during his nine-dart finish in 1990 — the perfect leg requires finishing on double 12 after hitting triple 20s and triple 19s.
Has Paul Lim played in the PDC World Championship?
Yes, he competed in the PDC World Championship multiple times, including in 2024 where he faced Luke Humphries (BBC Sport).
What is Paul Lim’s nickname?
He is widely known as “The Singapore Slinger” (Wikipedia).
Is Paul Lim still playing competitive darts?
Yes, as of 2025 he remains active on the PDC Asian Tour and continues to compete in PDC World Series events.
What is Paul Lim’s net worth?
His net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Darts prize money varies significantly by circuit, and Lim’s earnings from his 41 tournament wins are not aggregated in public records.
How many nine-dart finishes has Paul Lim hit?
He is credited with at least one perfect nine-dart finish — the historic 1990 leg at the BDO World Championship. He nearly hit a second in 2017 at age 63 (Sporting Life).
For Paul Lim, the legacy is settled. The question now is how much longer The Singapore Slinger will keep throwing darts at the world’s biggest stages — and whether Chris Lim will carry the name forward. For Singapore’s darts community, the choice is clear: celebrate the past while watching the future unfold at the oche.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.