William Borland is a professional Scottish darts player who gained international recognition for completing a record nine-dart score in the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship.
William Borland was born on 8 November 1996 in East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland. He became interested in darts at a very young age. Borland went on to play in numerous tournaments before entering the professional circuit to take on some of the top players in the game.
He is commonly known by his nickname “Big Willie.” Some of the highlights of his career include professional success, losses, and a return to the PDC circuit. Borland has qualified for the 2025 World Masters tournament and showed that he could go up against the top players.
This biography outlines the life story of William Borland, including his age, background, career, successes, net worth, family, and recent career achievements.
Who Is William Borland?
William Borland is a Scottish professional darts player and is involved in playing in competitions that are related to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He came into the limelight internationally due to his performance in the World Championships, where he completed a nine-dart finish.
Borland started playing darts when he was young and refined his skills as a result of competing in different tournaments. The career of William Borland has been characterized by participating in British Darts Organisation (BDO) tournaments, PDC qualifiers, and televised matches.
Even though a nine-dart finish is what he is mostly known for, his career has been characterized by acquiring a Tour Card and qualifying in various competitions.
Quick Bio: William Borland
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Borland |
| Nickname | Big Willie |
| Date of Birth | 8 November 1996 |
| Age in 2026 | 29 years |
| Birthplace | East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Profession | Professional darts player |
| Sport | Darts |
| Playing Hand | Right-handed |
| Reported Dart Weight | 24 grams |
| Walk-on Song | A Little Respect by Erasure |
| Professional Organisation | Professional Darts Corporation |
| Famous For | Match-winning nine-dart finish at the 2022 World Championship |
| Marital Status | Not reliably confirmed publicly |
| Net Worth | Not officially disclosed |
William Borland Age and Early Life
William Borland was born on the 8th of November 1996 in East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland. He is currently 29 years old as of October 2026 and is going to celebrate his 30th birthday in November.
Borland started practicing darts from around the year 2008 when he was about 11 or 12 years old. This meant that he developed his throwing technique, accuracy, and understanding of the game while still young.
There is much more to professional darts than being able to score highly. Players have to know how to count finishing combinations, how to keep their nerves together, and concentrate during the games which take long hours. This becomes more important during televised matches due to increased pressure.
The participation of Borland in the game of darts from an early age contributed to gaining some experience before joining the senior professional league. There is not much information available regarding his education, childhood, and background.
William Borland Darts Career
Early Career and BDO Tournaments
The competitive career of William Borland started with the competitions organized by the British Darts Organisation and involving both developing and seasoned players.
In 2017, Borland got into the last 48 at the World Masters competition. In 2018, he made it to the last 16 of the BDO World Trophy.
Such achievements helped the player gain experience in competitive conditions and get ready for professional darts. Though they did not instantly make him a well-known player, they were the key moments in his career development.
Joining the PDC Circuit
Borland joined the PDC circuit in 2019. It is worth mentioning that his main achievement that year was his participation in the quarter-finals of the PDC World Youth Championship, where he was beaten by Keane Barry.
In January 2020, Borland won a two-year Tour Card for PDC by finishing eighth in the Order of Merit at the UK Q-School. This was the career achievement since a Tour Card allows a player to enter professional ranking events and win prizes.
Such an achievement provided Borland with additional tools to introduce himself to the senior professionals’ community.
Experience in European Tour Events and European Championship
In 2021, Borland had the chance to participate in the European Tour and qualify to the European Championship.
There he beat the former world champion Simon Whitlock with the score 6–3 but then was eliminated in the second round by Joe Cullen (10-5).
Such experience was helpful for his preparation for the PDC World Darts Championship.
William Borland’s Historic Nine-Dart Finish
The crucial event in the life of William Borland took place on December 17, 2021, in the course of the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship held in Alexandra Palace, London.
Borland played against Bradley Brooks, an Englishman, in the first round of the tournament. As the game ended up in a leg, both participants found themselves under enormous pressure.
William Borland coped with the stress brilliantly, scoring nine perfect throws and winning the game.
In a regular game of darts, where a player has to reduce his/her score to zero from 501, starting from a double or a bullseye, nine darts is the minimum number of shots needed.
Borland’s perfect leg followed this scoring sequence:
| Visit | Score | Remaining Score |
|---|---|---|
| First three darts | 180 | 321 |
| Second three darts | 177 | 144 |
| Final three darts | 144 | 0 |
His last throw comprised treble 20, treble 20, and double 12.
The feat was especially noteworthy since Borland became the first-ever player to win a televised game in the PDC World Championship after registering a nine-dart finish.
He accomplished this remarkable feat in the decisive leg and won the game on that occasion. The fans cheered wildly, and the feat soon came to be considered one of the highlights of the championship.
Borland then lost his second-round game against Ryan Searle. However, his performance in the first round made him famous among all darts players around the world.
The nine-darter is the greatest feat of his life since it comprised technical perfection along with mental toughness.
William Borland’s PDC Tour Card Journey
A spectacular performance alone will not necessarily ensure a long-term career in professional darts. Players need to consistently perform well in ranking tournaments to preserve their spots and chances.
Borland had his PDC Tour Card from 2020 to 2022 but then dropped out of the professional ranks and was forced to participate in qualifying tournaments to gain another chance.
In January 2024, he obtained his Tour Card via UK Q-School, taking second spot on the UK Q-School Order of Merit.
The re-acquisition of the Tour Card was especially important since it secured him a spot on the professional circuit again. Moreover, it proved that he is determined to compete further despite all the difficulties he faced.
Preserving the spot is a complicated task since one needs to produce ranking money.
William Borland at the 2025 World Masters
In 2025, William Borland participated in a major tournament by qualifying for the PDC World Masters.
As part of the qualification process, he won against Dirk van Duijvenbode, Alan Soutar, and Mickey Mansell. All of those results enabled him to reach the main tournament stage.
At the beginning of the competition, Borland played against Stephen Bunting, who was the defending champion. He managed to win two out of three sets, losing the match 3–2.
Even though he failed to progress further in the competition, it showed that he had what it takes to defeat one of the major champions. Starting off strong against Bunting was a good thing for Borland, even though he did not end up winning the game.
This appearance represented yet another important step in his career.
William Borland Ranking in 2026
William Borland is placed differently under various ranking systems for professional darts players. Based on the information presented in October 2026, his current ranking stands at 136th position in the PDC ranking system, 106th place in the WDF Main Ranking, and 26th rank in the ADC United Kingdom ranking.
| Ranking Organisation | Rank |
|---|---|
| PDC Order of Merit tracker | 136 |
| WDF Main Ranking | 106 |
| ADC United Kingdom | 26 |
William Borland Career Achievements
William Borland has achieved several notable milestones during his darts career, even though his best-known accomplishment remains the nine-dart finish at the World Championship.
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Reached the last 48 of the World Masters |
| 2018 | Reached the last 16 of the BDO World Trophy |
| 2019 | Reached the quarter-finals of the PDC World Youth Championship |
| 2020 | Earned a PDC Tour Card through UK Q-School |
| 2021 | Reached the second round of the European Championship |
| 2021 | Hit a match-winning nine-dart finish at the World Championship |
| 2022 | Competed in the second round of the PDC World Championship |
| 2024 | Regained his PDC Tour Card through UK Q-School |
| 2025 | Qualified for the World Masters and led Stephen Bunting 2–0 in sets before losing |
| 2026 | Continued competing in darts events, with October match listings |
William Borland Playing Style and Equipment
William Borland is a right-handed player and a good scoring accuracy, finishing, and calmness player under pressure player.
In order for the professional darts player to be successful, he needs to make sure that he scores and finishes well. It is advantageous to score 180 points per visit, but then one needs to score a necessary double to finish the leg.
Borland’s nine-dart finish is an example of how well he can play a perfect series during the critical time. Nonetheless, one needs to perform consistently throughout the tournament. The player-profile records show that Borland uses 24-gram Red Dragon darts. His walk-on song is “A Little Respect” by Erasure.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Playing Hand | Right-handed |
| Reported Dart Weight | 24 grams |
| Reported Equipment Brand | Red Dragon |
| Walk-on Song | A Little Respect |
| Music Artist | Erasure |
| Nickname | Big Willie |
Equipment can change over time, so these details should be treated as reported profile information rather than confirmation of his exact current setup.
William Borland Net Worth and Prize Money
Net Worth of William Borland
William Borland, whose nickname is “Big Willie,” is a professional darts player in Scotland. The net worth of William Borland has not been revealed yet. However, he earns money from professional tournaments and perhaps other darts activities.
Career Prize Money of William Borland
According to tracking sources, the career prize money of William Borland varies between £26,500 and £100,055. However, according to other records, the amount is £39,500 in tracked earnings. This may vary due to different sources.
William Borland Biggest Payday
The biggest payday of William Borland has been revealed to be £15,000 at the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship. William Borland became known during that championship when he hit a winning nine-dart finish against Bradley Brooks.
Income Sources of William Borland
William Borland mainly earns from tournament prize money. Perhaps some additional income comes from sponsorships and endorsements; however, his personal financial information remains undisclosed.
William Borland Family and Personal Life
William Borland keeps much of his private life away from public attention. Most available information about him concerns his professional career and performances in competitive darts.
In December 2025, Borland discussed personal circumstances involving the deteriorating health of his mother and grandmother as a reason for stepping back from the PDC ProTour for much of that year. His comments highlighted how family responsibilities can affect a professional athlete’s ability to compete regularly.
Beyond information he has discussed publicly, detailed facts about his family should not be assumed.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Username |
|---|---|
| @bigwillie180 | |
| BigWillieBorland | |
| @WBorland9 |
William Borland Hobbies and Interests
Darts is the main activity associated with Borland’s public life. His career reflects a long-term commitment to practice, competition and improving his performance.
Public reporting has also associated him with Rangers football club as a supporter. However, detailed information about his everyday hobbies, favourite foods, and other personal interests is limited.
It is important not to attribute unverified preferences or lifestyle details to him simply to make a biography appear more comprehensive.
Interesting Facts About William Borland
- Historic nine-darter: He won a televised PDC World Championship match by becoming the first to do so with a nine-dart finish.
- Deciding-leg winner: He won with a perfect leg that defeated Bradley Brooks in the deciding leg of their 2022 World Championship first-round match.
- Nicknamed Big Willie: This is his darts nickname.
- Span of time: He started playing darts in about 2008.
- Tour Card comeback: He came back onto the professional PDC tour after UK Q-School in 2024.
- World Masters contender: He led Stephen Bunting 2–0 in sets at the 2025 World Masters tournament but lost 3–2.
- Born in Scotland: He is from East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland.
William Borland Future Career Prospects
The career of William Borland shows the contrast between creating a great moment and having sustained success across a number of years.
He has created such an unforgettable event as a nine-dart finish, but professional darts players need to have success across their ranking tournaments. Losing one’s Tour Card can make that goal harder to achieve as one needs to qualify back into tournaments.
A comeback to professional darts in 2024 shows that Borland can bounce back from the loss of the Tour Card. In addition, his participation in the 2025 World Masters shows that he can face a major champion.
His further career can be built around good scores, efficient finishes, qualification for tournaments, and converting great games into wins. They can all become career goals but not personal plans yet.
Conclusion
William Borland has achieved a lasting legacy for himself in the history of darts through his winning nine-dart finish in the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship. Nevertheless, there is a lot more to Borland’s career than just that exceptional performance.
Whether it be his initial appearances in competitions and earning a Tour Card in 2020, coming back through Q-School in 2024, and competing in the World Masters in 2025, Borland’s career showcases the ups and downs that come with being a professional athlete.
By October 2026, he had achieved his greatest success yet in the form of his nine-darter. The rest of his career in darts can still give him plenty of chance to add to his accomplishments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is William Borland in 2026?
William Borland is 29 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 8 November 1996 and will turn 30 in November 2026.
What is William Borland famous for?
He is best known for hitting a match-winning nine-dart finish against Bradley Brooks at the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship.
What is William Borland’s nickname?
His professional darts nickname is “Big Willie.”
Where is William Borland from?
He is from East Calder, West Lothian, Scotland.
What is William Borland’s net worth?
His exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Online estimates should be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable financial evidence.
What is William Borland’s walk-on song?
His reported walk-on song is “A Little Respect” by Erasure.
Has William Borland won a major PDC title?
His best-known achievement is his historic nine-dart finish at the World Championship. A major televised PDC title is not established in the career record summarised here.
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