David Pallett joins the PDC's nine-dart club
Newport's David Pallett joined the nine-dart club at the PDC's annual awards dinner at the swanky Dorchester Hotel in London this week.
The Shropshire thrower hit the perfect leg to seal a 6-4 victory over Johnny Haines in a non-televised UK Open qualifier last year,
Two 180s in succession got the attention of spectators, before treble 19 and the clinching dart at double 12 led to cheers around the Robin Park Centre in Wigan.
It landed him an invite to the PDC bash and a silver pin, with gold awarded to those who achieve a nine-darter in front of the television cameras.
It sparked Pallett into a run that saw him qualify for the UK Open and his first World Championship, climbing to 46th in the Order of Merit.
The 23-year-old, who turns 24 next month, was dressed in his Sunday best to receive his prize and was joined on stage by Haines, who later hit his own nine-darter in a Players Championship event.
Pallett said: "They are not that rare these days, plenty of players have hit a nine-darter and lost, so I was just glad it got me the deciding leg against Johnny.
"It's something you don't really think about until you are on 141, as 180s fly in all of the time when you are on a roll and the match is flowing thick and fast.
"I went down earlier in the day and did a bit of sight-seeing in London, then went back to the hotel and got my suit on. It felt a bit weird seeing some of the players in tuxedos!
"The silver pin is a nice memento for me, I might get a little frame for it or something when I get home. I'll always remember my first nine-darter in a match.
"I had done it on the practice board before, but I have only gone close to it since. I will be trying for another one, it really gave me confidence last time for what proved to be a good year."
