Kist-mas Miracle at the Darts: Meet the Fan who Bagged £60,000 at 2025 PDC World Championship

A remarkable moment lit up day four of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship when former Lakeside world champion Christian Kist nailed a spectacular nine-dart leg during his match against Madars Razma. 

Merry Kist-Mas

While such a feat is legendary in its own right, the stakes were even higher this year thanks to title sponsors Paddy Power’s ‘Bigger 180’ campaign. As part of the initiative, Paddy Power pledged to award £180,000 every time a nine-darter was hit during the tournament—split equally between the player, Prostate Cancer UK (the tournament’s main charity), and a random fan in attendance.

For 28-year-old Chris from Sutton, London, that fan was him.

Chris wasn’t even supposed to be at the darts. He only got a ticket as a birthday gift from his grandad just over a week ago. Little did he know that this spontaneous trip to Alexandra Palace would turn into an unforgettable evening. 

Sitting beside his grandad, Chris’s face was picked out by Paddy Power’s cameras as the lucky recipient of the £60,000 jackpot.

Speaking to SportsBoom.com about the surreal experience, Chris shared his immediate reaction:

“I turned around to my granddad. I was like, seriously? Is this me? I was like, oh my God, this is mental. I kept going like, this can't be real, this can't be real. That's not me. And then everyone started looking at me. It took a while to set in.”

Although he was aware of Paddy Power’s campaign, Chris admitted he never expected to win:

“I knew about it [the ‘Bigger 180’ campaign] but wasn’t sure on whether it was random or how it worked. I never expected to win it.”

Work in the Morning

Chris, a railway guard manager based in Wimbledon, had spent the entire day at work before rushing to Ally Pally for the evening’s action. Despite the life-changing windfall, he insisted his daily routine wouldn’t change immediately.

“I’ll still be going to work tomorrow,” he said, adding that the news was still sinking in.

When asked about his plans for the winnings, Chris revealed a mix of practical and celebratory intentions.

“It will likely be going towards my mortgage that I share with my partner, and we’ll probably go on a lavish holiday in the new year.”

Chris concluded with a smile, reflecting on what this unexpected fortune means for him and his family: “No matter what, it’s going to be a good Christmas.”

For Chris and his grandad, this magical evening at the darts has turned into a Christmas story to remember—proof that miracles can happen, even in the electric atmosphere of Alexandra Palace.