Paul Lim

Paul Lim Leong Hwa is a Singaporean professional darts player who has competed at the highest levels of the sport for over four decades. Nicknamed "the Singapore Slinger," he is best known for achieving the first nine-dart finish in BDO World Championship history in 1990. As of 2026, at age 71, he remains an active competitor, having recently won a match at the 2026 PDC World Championship, making him the oldest player ever to do so.

Lim's career spans the BDO, WDF, and PDC circuits, and he has been a pioneering figure for Asian darts. His longevity is remarkable; he reached the final of the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championship at age 70, and continues to inspire fans with his enduring skill and passion for the game. [edit]

Paul Lim was born in Singapore on 25 January 1954. Growing up in the city-state, he developed an early passion for darts, a sport that was then dominated by British and European players. He spent his formative years honing his skills locally, competing in Singapore and across the Asian region during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a time when professional darts had little presence in Asia.

His talent soon caught the attention of the international darts community. Lim qualified for the BDO World Darts Championship, the sport's premier event at the time, marking his first major international exposure. He established himself on the BDO circuit, becoming a formidable player and a trailblazer for Asian representation in a sport that had almost no Asian professionals at the top level. [edit]

Paul Lim's defining moment came at the 1990 BDO World Darts Championship at the Lakeside Country Club. During his second-round match against Jack McKenna, he achieved the first-ever nine-dart finish in the history of the championship, a perfect leg of 501 thrown in just nine darts. This historic feat made headlines worldwide and remains one of the most iconic moments in televised darts.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Lim continued to compete regularly on the BDO and WDF circuits, representing Singapore in numerous international competitions. In 2016, he won the THE WORLD championship on the DARTSLIVE soft-tip darts circuit, proving his mastery across both steel-tip and soft-tip formats. At age 70, he reached the final of the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championship, an unprecedented achievement for a player of his age. Then, on 13 December 2025, he defeated Jeffrey de Graaf in the first round of the 2026 PDC World Championship, becoming the oldest player ever to win a match at that event. [edit]

Paul Lim is widely known as "the Singapore Slinger," a nickname that reflects his sharp, accurate throwing style and his Singaporean heritage. Within the soft-tip darts community, he is simply called "Legend." Media coverage consistently portrays him with respect, emphasizing his historic achievements, his longevity, and his role as a trailblazer for Asian darts. His fan base spans multiple regions, particularly Singapore and the broader Asian darts community, as well as the global darts audience that has followed his career since 1990. He maintains an active Facebook presence, which serves as his primary direct connection to fans. [edit]

Paul Lim has cultivated a following built on decades of unwavering respect rather than modern fan club structures. Within the darts community, particularly among enthusiasts of soft-tip and WDF circuits, he is affectionately known simply as "Legend." This moniker reflects his status as a living bridge between the sport's early days in London and its current global scale. Fans gather at major events like the All Dartslive SEA Tour to celebrate his presence, though no organized digital campaigns or specific rituals define this group beyond general tournament attendance. His supporters view him as a pioneer for Asian darts, with a legacy that spans four decades across the BDO, PDC, and WDF. While there is no formal collective noun for his admirers, the reverence he commands from the niche world of professional darts remains profound.

Despite his towering status within the sport, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Paul Lim and determined that he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, including the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope lists. He does not currently hold a numeric rank or score in the August 2026 data snapshot.[edit]

Paul Lim's nine-dart finish in 1990 predates the PDC's first nine-darter by several years, cementing his place as a true pioneer. He has competed across three different governing bodies, BDO, PDC, and WDF, spanning multiple eras of the sport with a career lasting over four decades. In 2016, he won THE WORLD championship at age 62, demonstrating elite-level skill in soft-tip darts well into his sixties. His recent achievements include reaching the final of the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championship at age 70 and securing a victory at the 2025 PDC World Championship at age 71, making him the oldest player to achieve significant results at both major events.

Long before his global recognition, Lim dominated the Asia-Pacific region with three victories in the WDF Pacific Cup Singles during 1980, 1984, and 1986. These wins established him as a force long before the sport's massive commercialization. A story fans still retell involves his transition from playing in Chiswick, London, starting in 1976, to becoming the oldest active competitor in history, proving that longevity can be just as legendary as a perfect game.[edit]

Paul Lim has kept his personal life remarkably private, and no credible public sources document his family, including any spouse, children, or siblings. He has never publicly discussed his marital status or family in interviews or on social media. This privacy is unusual for a sports figure of his stature, but it has allowed him to maintain a clear focus on his career. As of 2026, he continues to reside in Singapore, where he is associated with DARTSLIVE, the soft-tip darts company. [edit]

Paul Lim is associated with several key figures and organizations in darts. His 1990 nine-dart finish came against Jack McKenna, and his 2025 PDC victory was over Jeffrey de Graaf. He is employed by DARTSLIVE, the soft-tip darts company, and is sponsored by Target Darts, among others. His sponsors include L-Style, Doron, NKW, and I Darts SG. [edit]

Paul Lim has maintained a notably private personal life, and there is no public information about any romantic relationships. He has never been the subject of tabloid coverage regarding dating, and no credible sources document a spouse, partner, or children. As of 2026, his relationship status remains undisclosed, and he appears to prefer keeping this aspect of his life out of the public eye. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Paul Lim's net worth at $2 Million. This figure reflects his earnings from a long career in professional darts, which includes prize money from BDO, PDC, and WDF tournaments, as well as sponsorship deals with Target Darts and other brands. Lim also earns income from his employment with DARTSLIVE, where he works, and from appearance fees at exhibitions and tournaments worldwide. His signature dart products are sold through retailers like Dartshopper, adding to his income. While not among the highest earners in the sport, his financial standing reflects a successful and enduring career.[edit]

Paul Lim's most celebrated achievement is his historic nine-dart finish in 1990, which, while not a formal award, is a landmark in darts history. He won the THE WORLD championship in 2016 on the DARTSLIVE circuit, and was runner-up at the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championship. These accomplishments have earned him enduring recognition as a legend of the sport. [edit]