Sixty-Four & Back for More!
Paul Lim is a darting legend! The 64 year old has booked his spot at Alexandra Palace for his 11th PDC world championship. The Singapore Slinger qualifying through the Asian Tour's Order of Merit.
To watch the video of this story click HERE
The 'Singapore Slinger' Back on the Ally Pally Stage
He is one of the all-time greats and, at the age of 64, is still considered one of the worlds elite arrow-smiths. So, when news broke this past weekend that he’s qualified for the world championship again it made headlines across the globe. And, the praise on social media was immediate for the 'Simgapore Slinger.'
The Singapore Slinger Paul Lim
Yes, Paul Lim will join Royden Lam, Lourence Ilagan and Noel Malicdem at Alexandra Palace this December, all four earning their way through the PDC's Asian Tour Order of Merit. The PDC expanded its world championship this year to 96 players, guaranteeing four spots from the Asian circuit, where Lim was actually 5th on the Order of Merit but gets in thanks to Seigo Asada, who was 2nd on that list but had already booked his place by winning the Pro Darts Japan qualifier last week in Tokyo!
The PDC's Asian Tour Order of Merit Qualifiers
"Paul Lim returning to the World Championship stage,” was the headline at dartsnewsofficial.com. Over at Dartsnews.com it was "Nine Dart Hero secures world championship return," a story by Lawrence Lustig. Josh’s Dartistry was all over it as well. "Paul Lim secures World Championship qualification,” the bold print on his article. "Breaking News,” announced Garry Plummer. "Paul Lim has confirmed his place for this years World Championship!"
Kevin Shepherd was liking what he was hearing. "Brilliant that the Legend Paul Lim will once again grace the stage at the Ally Pally,” he tweeted Hashtag love the darts.
Fun fact from @OcheBalboa1: "Paul Lim first played in a World Championship in 1982. 2019 and he is still qualifying.... amazing stuff!
Why all the excitement? Well, Paul Lim has been delighting fans for years now, and was winning tournaments long before ever becoming a household name, long before many pros today were even born. He captured the Australian Grand Masters back in 1983, twice won the United States Virginia Beach Classic; 1992, then again in 1998. And let’s not forget his soft tip accolades,.including that world championship victory in 2011.
It’s 2018 now, and the 64 year old is still bagging titles. Most recently, Lim took down the PDC Asian Tour event in Tapei, no doubt a big boost on his march for the Alexandra Palace. Lim’s best showing ever at the worlds? A quarterfinal run in 1990, then known as the BDO’s Embassy World Championships. Phil Taylor hoisted the trophy that year, pocketing the $24,000 for first place but the BIG story was Paul Lim’s nine-dart leg. He became the first player ever to land perfection at the world championships in his 2nd round victory over Jack Mckenna.
1990 perection at Emassy World's
For completing the trick, Lim won $52,000, more than double Taylor’s purse for winning the tournament. To date, it remains the only perfect game ever achieved at the BDO World Championship.
Likeable, steady on the oche and clutch when it matters, Paul Lim is an ambassador of the game and like a fine wine gets better with age. He was 63 last year when he caused quite a stir at the palace, upsetting former Lakeside champ Mark Webster in the opening round. Then in round two, against the 'Flying Scotsman' Gary Anderson, Lim came ‘that close,’ the width of a wire, to nailing another 9-darter. Unreal scenes at the Ally Pally. Perfection 27 years apart? It would have been glorious.
"Doing a 9 last year,” tweeted David Edmund, "would have overshadowed Cross winning IMO.”
Four times a quarterfinalist at the World Masters, Lim is also a quarterfinalist at the World Matchplay. He also reached the 'elite eight' at 2017 World Cup of Darts alongside teammate Harith Lim . They made headlines by upsetting Gary Anderson, Peter Wright and Scotland, one of the tourney favourites, in the very first round.
"We're going to see 9-dart hero Paul Lim at Ally Pally this year,” tweeted @DartsCounter. And, consider this from Warren Alsworth: "Standard at the top end of that tour has been fantastic,” he said. "They will be tough first rounds draws," referring of course to the Asian qualifiers.
Has Paul lim got a chance? Yes! Will he be one of the tourney favourites or even a serious threat to win? No! But he is now in the mix. Can he be counted on for something magical? There's no doubt about that! That big stage, those big moments, are meant for the big guns and Paul Lim is one of the biggest. You know he’ll be locked and loaded come December.
Sixty-four and back for more. The Singapore Slinger today on High Roller Radio
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