Brendan Dolan

Northern Irish professional darts player known for being the first to hit a nine-dart finish at the World Grand Prix in the double-start format in 2011.

Born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, on 2 July 1975, Brendan Dolan emerged from Northern Ireland's thriving darts scene to become one of the sport's most respected professionals. Growing up in a region with strong darting traditions, he developed his skills in local leagues before transitioning to the professional circuit in the mid-2000s following the sport's split between the BDO and PDC organizations. Dolan established himself as a consistent performer on the PDC tour, earning the nickname "History Maker" after his remarkable achievement at the 2011 World Grand Prix. His steady approach and reliable finishing ability saw him qualify for multiple PDC World Championships, where he reached the quarter-finals and demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level. Throughout his career, he maintained a solid presence on the Pro Tour and European Tour, regularly featuring in televised tournaments and earning respect from peers for his professionalism and sportsmanship. The defining moment of Dolan's career came during the 2011 World Grand Prix in Dublin, where he achieved what many consider the most difficult feat in competitive darts. His nine-dart finish against Vincent van der Voort marked the first perfect leg in the tournament's history. The achievement was particularly significant due to the Grand Prix's unique double-start format, which requires players to begin each leg by hitting a double before accumulating points. This format makes a nine-dart finish exponentially more challenging than in standard play, with statisticians calculating the odds as astronomically difficult. Dolan's historic nine-dart finish transcended typical tournament achievements and secured his place in darting folklore. The feat is widely regarded by experts and statisticians as the hardest individual scoring accomplishment ever recorded in professional darts competition. His achievement highlighted the exceptional skill required to excel in different tournament formats and demonstrated that breakthrough moments can define careers regardless of overall ranking or major title victories.

Methodical thrower known for strong doubles finishing

Pioneering Northern Irish darts player who achieved historic nine-dart finish

• First player to hit a nine-dart finish at the World Grand Prix (double-start format, 2011)
• PDC World Championship quarter-finalist