'I wanted to see him win': WDF World Champion Shane McGuirk makes Paul Lim admission after Lakeside final

In December 2024, Shane McGuirk crowned himself world champion with the WDF. The Irish darter delivered an impressive tournament in the iconic Lakeside. But the road to that ultimate moment began years earlier, with a dartboard on a chair in the kitchen of his parents' home.

McGuirk went from playing in his kitchen to reaching multiple finals on the Development Tour and 'The Arrow' was seen as a real top talent.

"First started throwing darts at a dartboard sitting on a chair. From the kitchen table just throwing darts at it and I just started enjoying it. Do a lot of sports growing up like we'd play football, an indoor sport was good as we obviously don't get the weather for anything else. Darts was a good alternative to that," said McGuirk to the MODUS Super Series.

"Played local league when I was 14, 15, 16. First year I had to mark all the games so I could learn to count and play as that's a big important part of the game. Not saying I have the best counting in the world but I had enough to get by. It's got me a good foundation I suppose. I built on that and I started playing in the league and enjoying it more."

"I got my first call up to play for Monaghan County. That was a big moment for me especially when you're 16. It's a nice moment but I went down and I saw the atmosphere we get down at the All Irelands and it was brilliant."

"So kind of put me in a good front to go I want more than this I want bigger than this. I want to play in front of bigger crowds, that drove me to go to Development Tour. Played a couple, I was doing well. I was holding myself there. I made three finals within five events. Missed out on my Tour Card that year through the Development Tour but that spurred me on to do more. I knew what I had. It was there. The rest is kind of history for me so far."

From big stage lights to Lakeside

But while he dreamed of that, he dreamed of a bigger ultimate goal and that was becoming WDF World Champion. He won the Irish Open and played the MODUS Super Series. He said that got him used to the crowds and the big lights.

"When I was younger I wanted to be World Champion. Everyone says it at home. You're hitting doubles at home and you think you're the Bedroom Champion. I set myself realistic goals was to get on ProTours and play European Tours. I haven't played any European Tours. That's still on the bucket list."

"To win the Irish Open was big. I was the first Irishman to win it. Playing at the MODUS Super Series under the cameras and lights, I went to Lakeside and I wasn't actually nervous. I was thinking to myself just settle down try and get into it. If you win you win, if you lose you lose. You're still going to be playing on one of the most iconic stages in the world. To win the first game was massive."