Paul Lim has once again made history by defeating Jeffrey de Graaf at Ally Pally. At 71 years old, Lim has broken his own record as the oldest player to secure a victory at the PDC World Championship.
In a surprising turn of events, Lim bested De Graaf, who is 35 years his junior, with a 3-1 win, securing his spot in the second round. This accomplishment comes 44 years after his initial World Championship appearance.
Lim qualified for Ally Pally for the first time since the 2022 World Championship, where he was eliminated in the first round by Joe Murnam. Despite averaging just 86.52 with two 180s, his performance was sufficient to overcome a below-par De Graaf.
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Lim acknowledged the support of the 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.”
His most recent notable victory on the grand stage was in the previous year’s championship against the current World No.2, Luke Humphries. If Humphries triumphs over Ted Evetts later tonight, a rematch between Lim and Humphries awaits in the second round.
Reflecting on Humphries, Lim praised the player’s dedication and skill, remarking, “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’s enduring presence in the sport has solidified his status as one of the darts’ iconic figures. He notably achieved the first-ever World Championship nine-darter in the 1990 BDO tournament against Jack McKenna, earning a £52,000 bonus.