Paul Lim
Encyclopedia
Paul Lim Leong Hwa known simply as Paul Lim (born 25 January 1954 in Singapore
) is a professional
darts
player who will be best remembered for being the first player to hit a perfect nine-dart finish
during the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship
in 1990. It remained the only televised nine-dart game to have been achieved in either version of the world championships until 2009, where Raymond van Barneveld
hit one against Jelle Klaasen
in the quarter-final of the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship
.
Lim represented three different countries at darts. Singapore was not affiliated with the sport's governing body, the World Darts Federation
(WDF), so Lim played briefly for Papua New Guinea
, but settled in California
and represented the United States
in international competition, before also playing for his native country when they became a WDF playing nation.
He made his World Championship debut in 1982, losing a first round match to Dave Whitcombe
. He failed to progress beyond the second round for the next seven years - losing to the likes of Cliff Lazarenko
(twice), Bob Anderson
, Mike Gregory, and John Lowe
(twice). Then in 1990 he hit the headlines and jackpot as he achieved the first World Championship nine-dart finish against Jack McKenna
in the second round on January 9. The bonus prize of £52,000 was more than eventual tournament winner Phil Taylor claimed for becoming world champion. It was the only year that Lim managed to reach the quarter-finals of the event, losing again to Lazarenko.
He continued to come up against the biggest names in the game in the world championship: Alan Warriner
, John Part
(en route to the 1994 title), and Lowe defeated him again in the years after his nine-darter.
Lim decided to switch to darts other organisation, the World Darts Council
(now PDC) later in 1994 and made his debut at the 1994 World Matchplay
. Lim never enjoyed any success in the PDC - he managed to win only one match in the PDC World Championship, despite appearing in the tournament each year between 1997 and 2002. Although he no longer competes on the darts circuit full-time, Lim still competes at tournaments in his home country. He reached the last 16 of the Las Vegas Open in January 2007. http://vcda.org/LVRESULT.htm
He won many titles in and around his native country including five Singapore Opens, five Malaysian Opens, and five Asian Cups, but his failure to reach the final stages of the British Darts Organisation
and Professional Darts Corporation major tournaments has meant he will be best remembered for his 1990 nine-dart achievement.
Paul Lim is a six-time Medalist (Soft-Tip) Grand Master singles champion. He is arguably the best soft-tip player in the world, even having a dart game programmed with his voice called "out on a Lim".
qualification course in cookery, studying at Battersea and Westminster Colleges in London and undertaking his first role as a chef at the Chelsea Hotel in Knightsbridge. It was whilst he was in Britain studying that he was introduced to the game of darts at the Robin Hood pub near Gunnersbury Station.
He settled in San Bernardino, California
and is married to Janet. They have two sons, Christopher and Michael.
Appeared on Bullseye
, scoring £198 for charity.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
) is a professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
player who will be best remembered for being the first player to hit a perfect nine-dart finish
Nine dart finish
A nine-dart finish is the ultimate checkout in the game of darts, constituting a perfect game. It is notoriously difficult to achieve, even by the game's top professionals...
during the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship
World Professional Darts Championship
The World Professional Darts Championship is one of the most important tournaments in the darts calendar. Originally held as an annual event between 1978 and 1993, players then broke off into two separate organisations after a controversial split in the game...
in 1990. It remained the only televised nine-dart game to have been achieved in either version of the world championships until 2009, where Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
hit one against Jelle Klaasen
Jelle Klaasen
Jelle Klaasen is a Dutch professional darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation and is the youngest darts player to win the World Darts Championship. His nickname is The Matador. He lives in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands...
in the quarter-final of the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship
2009 PDC World Darts Championship
The 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship was the 16th World Championship organised by the Professional Darts Corporation since it separated from the British Darts Organisation....
.
Lim represented three different countries at darts. Singapore was not affiliated with the sport's governing body, the World Darts Federation
World Darts Federation
The World Darts Federation Is a sport governing body and tournament organiser for the game of darts. It was formed in 1976, by representatives of fifteen nations. Membership is open to the official National organizing body for Darts in all nations...
(WDF), so Lim played briefly for Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, but settled in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and represented the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in international competition, before also playing for his native country when they became a WDF playing nation.
He made his World Championship debut in 1982, losing a first round match to Dave Whitcombe
Dave Whitcombe
Dave Whitcombe is an English professional darts player who won several major tournaments and reached two World Championship Finals. He had a long professional career between 1980 and 1992.-Biography:...
. He failed to progress beyond the second round for the next seven years - losing to the likes of Cliff Lazarenko
Cliff Lazarenko
Cliff Lazarenko is an English professional darts player who competed for the British Darts Organisation and the Professional Darts Corporation...
(twice), Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (darts player)
Robert Charles "Bob" Anderson is a former world darts champion. He was ranked as world number one for over three years in the late 1980s. Nicknamed The Limestone Cowboy, he lives in Clevedon in Somerset.-Before Darts:Anderson threw his first darts maximum at the age of just five...
, Mike Gregory, and John Lowe
John Lowe
John Lowe is an English darts player who was one of the best-known men in darts during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the United Kingdom. Lowe is one of only five players to have won the World Championship 3 times.-Biography:Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades -...
(twice). Then in 1990 he hit the headlines and jackpot as he achieved the first World Championship nine-dart finish against Jack McKenna
Jack McKenna
John "Jack" McKenna is a professional Irish darts player.McKenna reached the quarter finals of the inaugural Winmau World Masters in 1974...
in the second round on January 9. The bonus prize of £52,000 was more than eventual tournament winner Phil Taylor claimed for becoming world champion. It was the only year that Lim managed to reach the quarter-finals of the event, losing again to Lazarenko.
He continued to come up against the biggest names in the game in the world championship: Alan Warriner
Alan Warriner-Little
Alan Warriner-Little is an English professional darts player. He currently lives in Crosby, Cumbria and plays with the nickname The Iceman...
, John Part
John Part
John Part is a Canadian professional darts player, who is nicknamed Darth Maple.Part is one of only five players in darts history to be a three time World Champion...
(en route to the 1994 title), and Lowe defeated him again in the years after his nine-darter.
Lim decided to switch to darts other organisation, the World Darts Council
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
(now PDC) later in 1994 and made his debut at the 1994 World Matchplay
1994 World Matchplay Darts
The 1994 World Matchplay was a darts tournament held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. This was the first World Matchplay tournament to be held at Winter Gardens, and was sponsored by Malaysian automaker Proton. The tournament was won by Larry Butler.-Results:Players must...
. Lim never enjoyed any success in the PDC - he managed to win only one match in the PDC World Championship, despite appearing in the tournament each year between 1997 and 2002. Although he no longer competes on the darts circuit full-time, Lim still competes at tournaments in his home country. He reached the last 16 of the Las Vegas Open in January 2007. http://vcda.org/LVRESULT.htm
He won many titles in and around his native country including five Singapore Opens, five Malaysian Opens, and five Asian Cups, but his failure to reach the final stages of the British Darts Organisation
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
and Professional Darts Corporation major tournaments has meant he will be best remembered for his 1990 nine-dart achievement.
Paul Lim is a six-time Medalist (Soft-Tip) Grand Master singles champion. He is arguably the best soft-tip player in the world, even having a dart game programmed with his voice called "out on a Lim".
Outside darts
Lim is a former military policeman and a former chef. He served his National Service in the Singapore army between the ages of 18 to 21. He came to Britain to seek a City and GuildsCity and Guilds of London Institute
The City and Guilds of London Institute is a leading United Kingdom vocational education organisation. City & Guilds offers more than 500 qualifications over the whole range of industry sectors through 8500 colleges and training providers in 81 countries worldwide...
qualification course in cookery, studying at Battersea and Westminster Colleges in London and undertaking his first role as a chef at the Chelsea Hotel in Knightsbridge. It was whilst he was in Britain studying that he was introduced to the game of darts at the Robin Hood pub near Gunnersbury Station.
He settled in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
and is married to Janet. They have two sons, Christopher and Michael.
Appeared on Bullseye
Bullseye (UK game show)
Bullseye was a popular British television programme. It was first made for the ITV network by ATV in 1981 and Central from 1982 until 1995, and hosted by Jim Bowen. The show originally aired on Monday nights from 1981, it was then moved to Sunday nights from 1982 to 1993 where it was watched by...
, scoring £198 for charity.