'Soft and sweet' Lim strives to be at sharp end of darts

Like many senior citizens, Singapore darts legend Paul Lim sees floaters, has double vision and is considering having his cataract removed.

- David Lee

Since the start of the year, the 70-year-old has required glasses to play darts.

But in front of a dartboard, he remains a marksman, capable of hitting a bull's eye smaller than a five-cent coin 2.37 metres away.

In the past week, he had stunned the world with his sensational run to become the oldest man in a World Darts Championship final.

In Surrey, England, he fought valiantly in a 6-3 loss to 29-year-old Irishman Shane McGuirk after a three-hour battle on Dec 8 and picked up a £16,000 (S$27,365) runner-up's cheque.

His average score for a turn of three darts at the world championship was 85.71, significantly higher than the 80.75 he managed in the 1990 edition.

This takes talent, but also commitment and love for the sport.

Lim told The Straits Times: "If I stop playing darts now, there's nothing to look forward to. I'll be sitting at home, watching TV, and I'll grow old very fast.

"But my passion for darts keeps me alive and active, and I'm thankful to have this sport to play because if it were soccer or rugby, I won't be able to do it any more."

Lim was once a proficient bowler and a seven-handicapper in golf, and can still put together rounds in the 90s. He also likes to cook and fish, and swims to build stamina, but nothing grips him quite like darts.

After completing national service in the 1970s, he enrolled in a cookery course in England, where he became hooked on darts at the age of 20 while playing the game with his friends at a pub.