Dimitri Van den Bergh joined an elite group of players to achieve a nine-darter in the Betfred World Matchplay during Sunday's first round win over Martin Schindler.
The Belgian star hit just the ninth nine-darter in three decades of the World Matchplay in a moment of magic at the Winter Gardens.
With the scores locked a three-all with Schindler, Van den Bergh opened leg seven with two 180s before taking out the 141 finish to achieve perfection.
He went on to complete a 10-6 win - although Schindler remained level after 12 legs - and was delighted to join an elite band of players, led by Phil Taylor, to hit a nine-darter in the event.
"This is so special," said Van den Bergh. "I'm in disbelief - I had goosebumps.
"As soon as I let the last dart go, I think I was already walking from the oche. I'm so proud, very proud.
"I love this event and I always give it my heart and soul, and this is my life.
"This year so far, when it comes to major tournaments, I'm showing what I can do. I've won the UK Open and reached the semis of The Masters and World Cup. I want that to continue.
"I've got the talent, got the mental strength and got the battle in me. I'll never back down, I'll always keep fighting."
Taylor had hit the World Matchplay's first nine-darter in 2002 and also achieved perfection in 2014, while Gerwyn Price was the most recent player to achieve the feat in the 2022 semi-finals.
🗣️ "I'm in disbelief. I'm so proud of myself!"
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 14, 2024
We caught up with this afternoon's nine-dart hero Dimitri Van den Bergh following his superb first round victory over Martin Schindler... pic.twitter.com/Fw2uhP2ccY
BETFRED WORLD MATCHPLAY NINE-DARTERS
PHIL TAYLOR - 2002 quarter-finals v Chris Mason
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD - 2010 first round v Denis Ovens
JOHN PART - 2011 first round v Mark Webster
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN - 2012 second round v Steve Beaton
WES NEWTON - 2012 second round v Justin Pipe
PHIL TAYLOR - 2014 second round v Michael Smith
GARY ANDERSON - 2018 quarter-finals v Joe Cullen
GERWYN PRICE - 2022 semi-finals v Danny Noppert
DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH - 2024 first round v Martin Schindler