OPINION: We're just two weeks away from the 26th edition of the Professional Darts Corporation's (PDC) world championship.
The 2018/19 tournament will be the most challenging yet, with the introduction of 24 further qualifiers increasing the field to 96 competitors, with 28 nationalities represented.
Two Kiwis Craig Ross and Cody Harris are among the 96 competing, and both will chase history to become the first Kiwi past the first round.
Over the years, the World Darts Championship has provided some historic moments. From the early days at the Circus Tavern to the Alexandra Palace, where matches are played now, there have been many genuinely jaw-dropping matches.
Here are just a few...
5. John Part vs Phil Taylor - 2002/03 final
Canadian John Part won his first PDC title in 2003, after a titanic battle against Phil Taylor at the Circus Tavern.
Heading into this match, Taylor had won eight straight world titles and destroyed Part in the previous two world championships, winning the 2001 final 7-0 and again in the 2002 semi-finals 6-0.
But Part was determined to make sure there was no repeat of those demolitions.
He rattled Taylor early, winning the first set with a 121 checkout on the bullseye, and then went on to hold leads of 3-0 and 4-1, before 'The Power' fought back to win four sets on the bounce and lead 5-4.
'Darth Maple' then hit back with pressure doubles to take a nip-and-tuck 10th set, and break Taylor in the final leg of a pulsating 11th.
At 6-5, with Part needing only to hold his darts to win the title, Taylor broke back to force a deciding set, but he couldn't hold serve in the final set, as Part claimed a famous win.
Part went on to win the world title again in 2008.
4. Michael van Gerwen vs James Wade - 2012/13 semi-final
While this may not have been the closest of games, it's remembered for arguably one of the most spectacular back-to-back legs ever seen in darts.
Van Gerwen was just one dart away from being the first ever man to throw two perfect nine-darters back-to-back. Throwing one in a match is tough enough, but back-to-back would be like taking six-straight wickets in an over of test cricket or something just as absurd.
The Dutchman was down 0-2 in the fifth set, when he started his rampage, throwing 180, 177 and finishing 144, with double 12 in the third leg, and sending the Ally Pally crowd into a frenzy.
He then stepped back up to the oche and nailed another eight perfect arrows in the next leg to set up the chance of even more history, but he missed double 12 by a millimetre.
'Mighty Mike' went on to win 6-4 and face Phil Taylor in the final, but he was no match for his English foe, who claimed his 16th and final world crown.
3. Phil Taylor vs Kevin Painter - 2003/04
At the time, this was the second sudden-death final in darts history, with the first occurring at the British Darts Organisation (BDO) world championships in 1992 when Taylor faced Mike Gregory.
Taylor was up against Kevin 'The Artist' Painter and the man from Stoke was determined to win back his title, after losing it the previous year to Part.
Things didn't start well though, as Painter stormed out to a 4-1 lead and had a chance to make it 5-1, but Taylor recovered the sixth set to claw his way back into the match.
Painter recovered and held onto the lead by pinching the eighth set in a deciding leg to go 5-3 up.
Taylor put on a spurt that saw him take nine of the next 12 legs to jump ahead 6-5.
Painter responded again to send the match into a deciding set, but Taylor remained composed, landed double five, with his opponent on a finish to win a match that lasted more than four hours.
Taylor then shocked the darts world by announcing his retirement from the sport, before changing his mind a few days later.
2. Rob Cross vs Michael van Gerwen - 2017/18 semi-final
Cross' 7-2 win over Taylor in the final was arguably more significant, as it was for a world title, but he wouldn't have made it without overcoming van Gerwen.
The Dutchman was the hot favourite heading into the match, as he was the defending champion and looked almost unbeatable heading into the event. On top of that, 'MVG' had never lost to Cross in a televised match.
Both players went blow for blow in the opening eight sets, before van Gerwen won the ninth to take the lead, but Cross remained calm and composed to fight back to send the match to an 11th-set decider.
Cross survived six match darts and hit double eight to triumph 6-5, winning the last set with a sudden death 11th leg. Both arrowsmiths averaged in excess of 100 and shared 31 maximums.
1. Raymond van Barneveld beats Phil Taylor - 2006/07 final
This was the battle of all battles - the two biggest names in darts squared off as if they were Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier in the 'Thrilla in Manila'.
The dominant Taylor had held the trophy since 2004 and looked set to win it for a fourth straight year, as he led 3-0 early in the match.
But 'Barney' wasn't ready to concede defeat and fought his way back to be 3-4 down. He then pulled it back to 5-5, before taking the lead for the first time at 6-5.
The 12th set went to another deciding leg, which Taylor won to ensure the final would go to a deciding 13th set.
After 10 incredibly close legs, van Barneveld eventually clinched victory, after missing five championship darts earlier in the set, by hitting double 20 to seal his most famous win.
Van Barneveld won 7-6 for his fifth world title and his very first in the PDC, after his first four came in the BDO.
After the match, Taylor declared it was the best final he's been a part of.
Ben Francis is a Newshub online sports producer.