Legendary darts referee Russ Bray has been ridiculed for suggesting that a nine-dart finish is harder to achieve than a 147 break in snooker because the latter can be ‘fluked’.
The topic has been debated for many years without ever having a conclusive answer. Many people feel that a 147 needs a greater degree of precision and skill, given that it requires 36 perfect shots, and is harder to achieve as a result.
Others believe the mental strength needed to hit a nine-darter makes it more difficult than its snooker equivalent, with Bray nailing his colours to the mast during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Speaking to host Rick Edwards ahead of tonight’s World Darts Championship final, he said: “Pick up a set of darts, throw them at a dartboard and see how long it takes you to get a 180.
“The skill factor and the mental factor in this particular game is above and beyond nearly everything else you can think of.”
Edwards, who believes a 147 is harder to achieve than a nine-darter, quipped: “I reckon if I spent three months just throwing my arrows, I would eventually get a 180.”
Bray replied: “I’ll tell you what, you’d probably be throwing for the rest of your life and you probably wouldn’t hit a nine-darter. You’re talking about the pinnacle of the sport here.”
Edwards was having none of it and said: “You’re mad if you think there’s a debate here, Russ. I’m sorry. It doesn’t move, the thing doesn’t move! It’s just a fixed target.”
Bray responded by claiming that it is possible to achieve a 147 through sheer luck, saying: “You can fluke a 147.” A perplexed Edwards fired back: “Oh my god! I can’t talk to him. That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard.”
The legendary darts caller’s view is at odds with that of snooker star Shaun Murphy, who has repeatedly stated that he feels a 147 is more difficult to achieve than a nine-dart finish.
Murphy claims to be the only person to have ever achieved both feats, in addition to a hole-in-one in golf. He recently argued with darts champion Luke Humphries at a promotional event set up by Paddy Power, in which things got slightly heated.
Humphries said: “I think if you’re an amateur, you don’t play snooker, you don’t play golf, you don’t play darts. Give them a snooker cue, some darts and a golf club.
“I think they’d do the hole-in-one first, the nine-darter second and then the 147 last. I think that would be harder. But to a professional, I think a nine-darter is harder than a 147.”
Murphy made it clear that he did not agree with Humphries, scoffing at his comments and replying: “I didn’t know you were a comedian too.”
