71-year-old Paul Lim qualifies for 15th PDC World Darts Championship, set for return after Lakeside final run

Paul Lim has qualified for his 15th PDC World Darts Championship as he continues his lead as the oldest player to qualify for Ally Pally. He broke that record in fact three years ago and will continue at the age of 71.

Lim ran back the years last time out by reaching the final of the Lakeside World Darts Championship with the WDF losing out to Shane McGuirk in the final. This time around he clung on to the last available spot on the Asian Tour Order of Merit after 28 events.

Lok Yin Lee, a former Ally Pally favourite grabbed the title beating Motomu Sakai in a decider. It was too late for him to seal his spot at Ally Pally. But Alexis Toylo and Lourence Ilagan too are Ally Pally bound.

Paolo Nebrida chipped in with a title also edging out Tomoya Goto in another last leg shootout. Ryusei Azemoto then claimed his third title of the year meaning he joins Sakai also at Ally Pally. For Lim, he didn't seal a title. He reached the Last 16 to keep him in the frame. Last year, he went to Lakeside and nearly walked away as champion.

There is still the Asian Championship to come with two more spots in London up for grabs plus the Grand Slam spot for the winner so in theory he could soon double up if he manages to win both. But he continues to defy age and belief in reaching yet another Alexandra Palace.

Mon Lok Leung and Paolo Nebrida could be the duo to benefit if one of the top five manage to qualify for Ally Pally through the Asian Championship. It is Toylo, Sakai, Ilagan, Azemoto and Lim with Leung and Nebrida next in line. Other top names including Tomoya Goto, Keita Ono, Lok Yin Lee and Christian Perez missed out and will have to go this route to seal their spot. Xiaochen Zong in 26th won't as he has already done so through the China Premier League.