Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries to star in Paddy Power nine-darter vs 147 vs hole in one challenge

Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries will star in a unique challenge to settle one of the most hotly-debated questions in sport: what’s hardest – a nine-darter, a 147 or a hole in one?

The unique challenge, hosted by World Championship sponsors Paddy Power, will feature two stars from the world of darts, snooker and golf as they vie for perfection.

The two-hour challenge will take place from 12pm GMT on Wednesday December 4 and will be shown live on the Paddy Power YouTube channel and will be hosted by Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton.

The darts and snooker challenges will take place together in a behind-closed-doors studio in Manchester, while the golfers will arrive at The Hertsmere in Borehamwood.

Reigning World Champion Humphries will join three-time World Champion Van Gerwen on the oche to throw for a nine-darter,

Former World Champions Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy will attempt to make a maximum 147 break, while Ryder Cup hopeful Matt Wallace and current European Tour pro Ross Fisher will attempt to achieve a hole-in-one.

Every time the challenge fails, the respective leg or frame will restart, and players will go again and again until they make one – unless time runs out first.

How the stats stack up

Nine-Darter

The years ago, there were just 20 nine-dart finishes achieved on the PDC circuit, compared to 55 in 2024 so far.

That said, the likelihood of a professional player throwing a nine-dart leg remains extremely low, with odds of approximately 5,000/1 per attempt.

However, considering the exceptional abilities of players like Van Gerwen and Humphries, Paddy Power estimate the probability of either of them hitting a perfect leg in one attempt to be closer to 2,500/1.

In this challenge, the nine-dart finish is more likely than you might expect, as these players will likely have the most opportunities to attempt it.

147 break

There have been 208 maximums breaks in professional snooker history, 14 of which coming this year – more than any other in history.

The key to thinking the 147 will be achieved first is that in a conventional frame of snooker, winning the frame is the ultimate goal and not making a max, so the stats are somewhat misleading here given the 147 is the only goal in this challenge.

Murphy made the first, and only, 147 in the Snooker Shoot Out last year with the significant pressure of a shot clock involved, and Murphy and Williams have made a combined 11 career maximum breaks between them.

Hole in one

On average, professional golfers will make a hole in one on a par 3 approximately 1 in every 2,500 shots, making this the least likely of the three possibilities.

However, this hole is significantly shorter than a traditional professional par 3 at 141 yards. Although unlikely, this will also be the potential quickest of the 3 given both darts and snooker require multiple shots to click while only one shot can do the trick here.

None to happen

There is, of course, the distinct possibility that this debate could rage on beyond the perfect challenge if none of the six players manage to achieve their respective feat, and Paddy Power are offering 2/1 for a blank to be drawn.

Paddy Power are also offering all existing customers a £1 Free Bet on the challenge. To claim, simply login to your account and opt-in to the promotion.

Watch the Paddy Power Perfect Challenge live here

New customers on Wednesday can take advantage of huge odds on either Arsenal to Manchester United to win, with 40/1 available for Arsenal or 100/1 for United.