The World Grand Prix has held a special place on the PDC calendar since 1998, standing out for its unique double-in, double-out format where every leg must not only finish on a double, but also start on a double. Over more than a quarter of a century, that has produced a string of remarkable records — and Phil Taylor dominates much of the record book, with Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Gian van Veen and Brendan Dolan also carving out their place in World Grand Prix history.
Anyone scanning the roll of honour cannot miss Taylor. "The Power" won the tournament no fewer than eleven times and is by far the most successful player in its history. He played the event nineteen times and reached eleven finals, remarkably never losing once he had made the title match. His first title came at the inaugural edition in 1998, when the event used a legs format and Taylor beat Rod Harrington 13-8 in the final. He also lifted the trophy in 1999 and 2000, with his unbeaten streak at the tournament ending only in 2001. His eleventh and final World Grand Prix title followed in 2013, when Dave Chisnall did not win a set in the final and was swept 7-0. Michael van Gerwen, with six titles, is closest to Taylor, while James Wade, on two, is the only other player to have won the World Grand Prix more than once. The full roll of honour also includes single titles for Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Alan Warriner, Colin Lloyd, Robert Thornton, Daryl Gurney, Jonny Clayton, Mike De Decker and Luke Littler.
A perfect leg is special at any PDC tournament, but a nine-darter at the World Grand Prix is even rarer — across the event's entire history, only three have been thrown. That is all down to the format: because a player must open a leg on a double, there are fewer routes to perfection, and a nine-darter can only be hit if the first dart lands on double 20, double 17, or the bullseye. Players who routinely start on double 16, for example, cannot finish within nine darts. Brendan Dolan made history in 2011 as the first player ever to throw a nine-darter in the double-in, double-out format, doing it in his semi-final against Wade. The Northern Irishman opened the perfect leg with 160, followed it with a maximum 180, and left 161 — which he took. The historic feat also earned him his famous nickname, "The History Maker." Three years later came a match that remains unique in darts history: on 08.10.2014, Wade and Robert Thornton faced off and both players hit a nine-darter. Never before, and never since, have both players produced a perfect leg in the same match at the World Grand Prix.
One of the most recent records belongs to Gian van Veen. Since 2025, the Dutchman holds the highest match average ever recorded at the World Grand Prix, a record that had stood for 24 years and was held by Alan Warriner, who averaged 106.45 in 2001. Van Veen edged past it in 2025, posting a 106.47 average in his first-round match against Luke Littler. Remarkably, Van Veen did not win a set despite his record average — Littler beat him 2-0 and produced an exceptionally high level himself, averaging 105.58, which ranks third all-time. Together, Van Veen and Littler also hold the highest combined match average in World Grand Prix history. Most ton-plus averages come in the first round due to the shorter match length, but there are notable exceptions: Van Gerwen averaged 103.09 in a four-set quarter-final at the 2016 World Grand Prix, while Taylor posted 103.02 in a semi-final against Richie Burnett, winning 5-2. The top five match averages are completed by Gary Anderson (104.86, 2013 first round) and Michael van Gerwen (104.47, 2013 first round).
While several players have posted individual match averages over a hundred, no one has ever won the World Grand Prix with a tournament average of at least 100. Van Gerwen came extraordinarily close in 2016, recording match averages of 97.39, 97.17, 103.09, 99.37 and 100.29 across his five matches for a tournament average of 99.97. Meanwhile, another remarkable longevity record belongs to Wade: no player has started the World Grand Prix more often than "The Machine." Wade missed the editions from 1998 through 2004 but has been ever-present since his debut, and in 2026 the left-handed Englishman will line up for the 22nd time. On paper, the World Grand Prix seems tailor-made for Wade, who has been renowned throughout his career for his efficiency on doubles — a quality that becomes even more decisive in the double-in, double-out format. He especially capitalised on that in the first phase of his career, winning the World Grand Prix in 2007 and 2010, and reaching the final again in 2014, though a third title eluded him.
When it comes to 180s, Taylor's name tops the record books yet again. "The Power" holds the records for the most maximums in a single match and the most 180s across a single World Grand Prix — and remarkably, both records date back to 1998, the only World Grand Prix edition played in a leg format before the tournament switched to its signature set format the following year. In the final against Harrington, Taylor produced an unprecedented haul of maximums: across the 21 legs played, he hit a 180 no fewer than twenty times. Over the entire tournament, Taylor hit 42 maximums that year, a tally that has never been bettered.
