‘Still excited’ – Lim, 71, the oldest flinger in town

Paul Lim has a history background.

The 71-year-old became the oldest player to have won a match at the PDC World Championship after defeating Jeffrey de Graaf in the first round.

His most recent entry into the darts record books was almost 36 years after he became the first player to achieve a nine-dart World Championship finish.

Lim added, “I’ve always enjoyed it,” adding that he “never had any doubt” that he would continue to play at this age.

I “get to play, practice, and commit to a level where I believe I can even get better,” says the passionate person.

“Darts is not a sport where you need to be extremely strong. Essentially speaking, you only need to be healthy. Darts have a longer lifespan than many other sports, which is something.

Lim qualified for his first PDC World Championship since 2022 through the PDC’s Asian Tour after winning the 1982 World Championship.

He was invited to compete in the WDF version of the World Championship in December 2024 despite having only a chance of qualifying for the PDC tournament from the previous year. He ended up being the runner-up at the age of 70, just as he did at the same Lakeside venue where he made his famous nine-darter in January 1990.

When asked if his current self-imposed expectations are different, he responded, “In the beginning of my career, I felt like I had everything to lose.” All I want to do is appear and perform well at this time.

Lim won more money than Phil Taylor, who was the winner that year, with a sum of money worth £52,000 for his moment of perfection.

” The £52, 000 never came into my head, “said Lim”. I’m probably going to miss the last dart if I had given it some thought.

“I was aware that I was going to the nine-darter, but I never had the idea of the money.” My flow never faltered, I never stopped, and it turned out well.

It was a wonderful experience that forever altered my life.

When Lim won the top prize of £1 million from this year’s World Championship, he was prompted to question what he would do with that money, which helped him launch his own company.

He said, “I would look after my children first and foremost, and I would deposit money into a bank account for them and my granddaughters.”

There is still no male world darts champion, despite Mikuru Suzuki’s victory in the Japanese women’s BDO championship in 2019 and 2020.

“Probably two per cent of people who knew about darts ten years ago would have said they had seen it,” said Lim when I was on a street in Hong Kong and asked if they knew anything.

You watch the players from different countries, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan, in a different way. They are aware of darts when you ask anyone in Japan.

“It’s developing into something where someone wants to play darts well, compete for their country, and win a championship.”

Will the PDC World Championship be won by Asia in the future?

“I believe that will be true in ten years,” Lim said. It’s only a matter of time, I believe.

In the first round of the 2021 World Championship, Lim defeated Englishman Humphries 3-2 to win.

Given that Humphries, who is 41 years younger than Lim, has spent almost two years as the world’s number one and has won numerous major titles, including the world crown in January 2024, are unlikely to see another attempt.

After beating Ted Evetts in round one, Humphries said, “If anything, I’m thankful for Paul winning that game because it changed me as a player and as a person.

I lost about four stones in the 2021 UK Open final and was in a significant loss. It improved my career.

Lim responded, “To come across a champion who is as humble as him,” and that was truly a compliment. Nothing negative about Luke ever comes to mind.

There is a spark somewhere, and with every defeat or win, you must find it to lead you in the right direction. Although I don’t know whether or not he became a world champion, losing may have given him a reason to think differently, which has helped him.

You will inevitably be asked how long you will continue to play competitively at the age of 71.

I’m not sure when, but if I ever wake up one day and say, “Oh, I’ve got to go and play darts again,” Lim said.

“But I know it’s not right now because I get excited and pumped days and weeks before a tournament starts.”

“I won’t quit if I’m still excited about it,” he said.

What will be Lim’s legacy when it comes?

He said, “I want to be remembered as a person who loved darts and spent my entire life with them.”

“I want to be remembered as a player who spread the love among others. Darts are still being passed around by younger generations. I’m always willing to talk to anyone who wants to discuss darts.