Darts icon Wayne Mardle has sparked a fierce social media debate while arguing that a nine-dart finish is harder to hit than a 147 in snooker – despite having the stats to back it up.
Mardle, a five-time world championship semi-finalist, has argued that hitting nine perfect darts is trickier than a 147 with a selection of reasons, which haven’t gone down well with everyone.
As well as being able to miss a few shots before hitting a 36-ball 147, he has argued that snooker balls don’t have an assigned pocket, as per the common routes of hitting a nine darter.
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In addition, Mardle posted some statistics on the matter with 14 nine darters hit at the PDC World Championship since 1994 across 34,167 legs – or one every 2440 legs.
His second offering claims that if every single frame had been played at the World Snooker Championship since 1994, where there has been 10 across 20,410 frames, it works out to an average of one every 2041.
One fan hit back: “147 is, the hardest thing to do in any sport or game. Wayne Mardle is obviously on the wind-up! Love to see Wayne Mardle hit a 147.”
Which is harder? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
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One argument used by snooker fans is that 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy, who has also hit a nine-darter, has picked the 147 as harder.
He told the From the Clubhouse podcast having also once hit a hole-in-one: “Now, obviously, it’s the 147. Anyone who says nine-darter needs to go and see a doctor immediately.
“But we have that bit of banter quite often and, the last time we did it, I think the hole-in-one got thrown in and it was, like, hang on a minute, I’ve done all three.”
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Since John Lowe’s effort in 1984, there have been 71 televised nine-dart finishes up until Michael Smith’s iconic effort in the 2023 world final, with Phil Taylor hitting 11 and Michael van Gerwen eight.
Since Steve Davis in 1982, there have been 185 ‘official’ maximum breaks of 147, with Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 15 and John Higgins’ 12 the top of the table.
Having picked a 147 as being harder, Gerywn Price pointed out on the Happy Hour podcast last year: “Also you can fluke a 147, you can fluke a ball and still be on it, I can’t fluke in darts.”
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