Christian Kist has secured his place at the 2027 World Darts Championship. The 40-year-old Dutchman will return to Alexandra Palace after a year away. For Kist, qualification rewards a season in which, by his own account, he had to “fight hard” to achieve his goals.

The former BDO world champion said he was delighted to have qualified for the biggest darts tournament of the year. Kist had a season of mixed results, but ultimately did enough to earn another appearance in London.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself after a whole year of fighting and battling,” said the player from Vroomshoop, who described his season as one of ups and downs.

Kist hopes for a better result after historic nine-darter

At his previous World Championship appearance, in December 2024, Kist produced one of the tournament’s most remarkable moments. He hit a nine-darter against Madars Razma, winning the first set and earning a €72,000 bonus.

The Dutchman only found out during the following break how much his perfect leg had earned him. In hindsight, the news did little to help his focus. Kist later explained that it had taken him out of his rhythm.

Despite his spectacular achievement, he could not win the match. Razma fought back and eventually claimed a 3–1 victory. As a result, the nine-darter remained the sole highlight of Kist’s World Championship campaign.

He missed the World Championship a year later, but will get another chance this December. Kist, who became world champion at Lakeside in 2012, is back in the field at Alexandra Palace. The World Championship begins on 11 December and concludes with the final on 3 January.

Kist has the Players Championship Finals first

Before Kist can turn his full attention to the World Championship, he still has other matches to play. Later this month, he will also compete at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.

The top 64 players in the Players Championship Order of Merit qualified for the tournament. The rankings are based on results from the 34 Players Championship events held this season.

Kist finished 57th in the rankings and secured his place in the field. He faces an intriguing opponent in the first round, with the Dutchman drawn against Beau Greaves, the tournament’s eighth seed.

Kist is not the only Dutch player already assured of a World Championship place. Raymond van Barneveld has also qualified. Wesley Plaisier and Jeffrey de Zwaan were less successful in their bids for a place, failing to qualify through the relevant rankings.