DARTS legend Paul Lim is one match away from becoming the oldest darts world champion ever – 42 years after his making his debut in the tournament.
The 70-year-old Singaporean dispatched Jason Brandon 5-0 to book his place in the final against Irish legend Shane McGuirk at Lakeside.
Lim eased into Sunday’s final of the WDF World Championship after making his first appearance at the tournament in three decades.
And he did in style too, reeling 14 consecutive legs before closing out a straight sets victory.
An emotional Lim said: “I’m so glad to be in the final, because I want to go out with a bang.
“In my heart actually I felt that I’m prepared for it. I really am and I just want to do well.
“I always say that in any tournament, you just want to do well, and if you do well and you get beaten by a better opponent, tough luck.
“That’s what it is and we accept that, because I’ve been through it for 40 years. I think a bit of luck is on my side, but you create your own luck.
“I know I have a tough opponent. I just want to go up there and play my darts that’s all, and hopefully that will entertain the audience.”
After dropping the opening leg, he won six on the bounce to go 2-0 up at the first break.
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He broke to begin set three with a 67 checkout and followed it up with a 17-dart hold and taking advantage of missed chances for Brandon who was under the cosh at 4-0.
Lim began the fifth set with a stunning 104 checkout and hit an 180 on his way to wrap up the 5-0 win.
He etched his name into darts folklore with the first nine-darter at a World Championship back in 1990.
And tomorrow, he could become the oldest world champion.
Lim made his debut at the BDO World Championship all the way back in 1982 – which predates the inception of the WDC (now the PDC).
McGuirk, meanwhile, has been throwing a plus-90 average all tournament.
Over the years, Lim has graced several PDC stages, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay and the last-16 of the World Grand Prix in the 1990s.
He went close to more nine-dart glory against Gary Anderson at the PDC Worlds in 2017, narrowly missing double 12.
Lim realises that time does not play in his favour.
Earlier this week he dropped the news that this World Championship will likely be his last.
Second round draw (seeded vs first-round winner)
