THE Topic International Darts League saw two nine-dart legs landed during a major tournament for the first time - with both being called by 'specialist' Bruce Spendley.
The experienced referee has now been on the microphone an incredible SIX times when the perfect leg has been recorded.
The IDL saw Phil Taylor achieve a nine-darter for the fourth time in his incredible career when he took on Raymond van Barneveld.
Spendley was again on the microphone 24 hours later when Tony O'Shea matched the feat.
"It's one in a million," he said. "You're over the moon to call one, so two is unbelievable.
"Funnily enough on Tony's, I couldn't see the double 12 and you still have to check it even though he was jumping around the stage knowing it's in.
"The treble 20 and double 12 are about on a line with my vision and his flight came out and hid the double 12. You don't like to move while the players are throwing for a big finish like that, so I had to wait.
"He was leaping around the stage while I'm peering around his other dart before calling "Game, Shot..."."
The two added to Spendley's already impressive list of achievements during his career, taking his tally of nine-darters to six.
Russ Bray has twice called the perfect leg, beginning with Phil Taylor's first in the 2002 Stan James World Matchplay and then calling Michael van Gerwen's effort this year against Raymond van Barneveld in the Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts.
Fellow PDC referees George Noble and Paul Hinks have yet to call a nine-darter, with Noble being particularly unlucky having shared the duties with Bray at the Masters of Darts and also been on the roster at the IDL.
"I'm very lucky," said Spendley, who was the subject of a feature for Dutch television station SBS6 last week after his double feat.
"I guess it's every referee's ambition to call a nine-darter - just ask George!
"It was 25 years before I called one. I used to moan to Phil 'It's about time you hit one for me' because I thought I may never call one, then he did it two years running at the same tournament.
"I'm grateful that I've been the lucky one who's been there so many times now."
Bruce Spendley - Nine-Dart Roll of Honour
2004 Budweiser UK Open, Phil Taylor v Matt Chapman
2005 Budweiser UK Open, Phil Taylor v Roland Scholten
2006 Irish Masters, Colin Lloyd v Dennis Priestley
2006 Holsten Premier League Darts, Raymond van Barneveld v Peter Manley
2007 Topic IDL, Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
2007 Topic IDL, Tony O'Shea v Adrian Lewis
Main Picture courtesy Ans Westerdaal - Darts4You Magazine