SILVER LINING TO LIM'S SILVER YEARS

70-year-old Singaporean is runner-up in world darts c'ship, vows to return in 2025

- David Lee

Paul Lim fell short in his bid for a fairy-tale finish on Dec 8, but the 70-year-old Singaporean's legend continues to grow with a valiant display in his 6-3 final loss to Ireland's Shane McGuirk in the WDF World Darts Championship.

Before picking up his £16,000 (S$27,400) cheque, the Singaporean said: "I was down, but I never gave up. It's the same in life - never give up. I'll be back next year."

First held in 2022, the world championship is in its third edition, replacing the British Darts Organisation event following the latter's collapse in 2020. There is a separate Professional Darts Corporation World Championship with a £2.5 million prize purse that will be held at Alexandra Palace in London from Dec 15 to Jan 3.

Cementing his place in the £221,000 event as an Asian qualifier after he defended his Ulaanbataar Open title in June, Lim was a 150-1 outsider going into the tournament at the Lakeside Country Club in Surrey, England.

But the man known as the Singapore Slinger captivated the darting world by becoming the oldest world championship finalist, beating opponents who are young enough to be his grandchildren along the way.

Most of them were not even born when he made his world championship debut in 1982 at the same venue.