What happened here is something darts fans have rarely — if ever — seen during an official match. One player was only able to throw two of his three darts, and the reason why is almost impossible to believe until you see it for yourself.
Anyone who has played a game of darts has experienced the occasional strange bounce-out or awkward deflection. But what happened to Tom Bissell during Players Championship 15 was on an entirely different level.
The Englishman found himself at the center of a bizarre moment that was captured on camera and has quickly become one of the most unusual incidents seen in professional darts.
Unpopular Opinion:
If you catch a bouncer, you should get that dart back! pic.twitter.com/PwBBQItydd
— Pablinho (@pablinhodarts) May 14, 2026
In fact, the moment may be even rarer than the famous “triple Robin Hood” — a darting phenomenon that has only been recorded twice on camera in the history of the sport. While Bissell certainly deserves credit for unintentionally producing such a remarkable moment, the same unfortunately cannot be said for his overall performance in the tournament.
His match against Nick Kenny marked the opening round of Players Championship 15, held earlier this week, and it would also prove to be his final appearance of the day. The Welshman secured a convincing 6–2 victory, comfortably advancing to the next round.
Bissell struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match, finishing with an average of just 77.17 — far from a memorable statistical performance. Yet despite the disappointing result, the extraordinary incident ensured his name would be remembered among the sport’s strangest moments.
VIDEO: Only The Second Time In Darts History This Was Caught On Tape
While Bissell was making headlines for entirely different reasons, another player stealing the spotlight that day was Michael van Gerwen.
The Dutch superstar produced a sensational display in the semi-finals, demolishing Martin Schindler 7–0. However, it wasn’t merely the scoreline that caught attention — it was the astonishing average next to Van Gerwen’s name: an incredible 122.34.
That figure ranks among the highest ever recorded in professional darts and places the performance firmly among the sport’s historic achievements.
Van Gerwen carried that momentum into the final, where he faced fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode. Despite Van Duijvenbode posting a strong 101.86 average, he was unable to prevent Van Gerwen from claiming the title.
Although Van Gerwen did not repeat his 120+ average in the final, his 106.57 performance once again underlined the exceptional level he reached throughout the day. His consistency was equally impressive, having already recorded averages of 102.47 and 101.92 in earlier matches.
A day later, Players Championship 16 took place, with Andrew Gilding emerging victorious. The Englishman defeated Jonny Clayton 8–3 in the final to secure the title.