Neil Duff

{{Infobox darts player

| name = Neil Duff

| image = Neil Duff.png

| caption = Duff in 2022

| fullname =

| nickname = "Duffman"

| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1972|7|22|df=y}}}}

| birth_place = {{nowrap|Ballyclare, Northern Ireland}}

| hometown=

| since = 2003

| darts = 23g Red Dragon Signature

| laterality = Right-handed

| music = "Welcome To The Party" by Dj Krissy

| BDO = 2006–2020

| WDF = 2006–

| currentrank = {{WDF Rankings|Neil Duff}}

| BDO World = Winner (1): 2022

| World Masters = Quarter Final: 2019

| Seniors World = Quarter Final: 2023

| Seniors Matchplay = Semi Final: 2023

| Seniors Masters = Quarter Final: 2023, 2024

|results = {{aligned table|leftright=y|fullwidth=y|class=nowrap

| ADC The Vault National Finals | 2023

| British Pentathlon | 2021

| England National Singles | 2021

| England Open | 2024

| Irish Classic | 2022

| Pacific Masters | 2022

| Slovak Masters | 2022

| World Seniors Target Open Series 2 | 2023

| MyDarts.ch SDC Championship | 2024

}}

Neil Duff (born 22 July 1972) is a Northern Irish professional darts player who competes in World Darts Federation (WDF) events. He is a former WDF World Champion, having won the 2022 World Championship. He was previously ranked number one in the WDF World Rankings.

Career

Duff started playing darts when he was almost 30 years old and did not turn professional until he approached 50.{{Cite web |date=22 November 2023 |title=Neil Duff: From joiner to world champion - meet 'The Duffman' |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/67495721 |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

Duff reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Masters but lost to eventual champion John O'Shea.{{Cite web |last=Glennon |first=Michael |date=28 October 2019 |title=Cork's John O'Shea wins World Masters to cap fine weekend for Irish darts |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/darts/2019/1028/1086097-bdo-john-oshea-wins-world-masters/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=RTÉ}}{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Eamonn |date=28 October 2019 |title=Cork darts ace John O'Shea pulls off a major shock in BDO World Masters |url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40143428.html |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=Echo Live}}

In April 2022, Duff won the inaugural WDF World Darts Championship.{{Cite web |date=10 April 2022 |title=Neil Duff: Northern Ireland man wins WDF World Championship title |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/61062470 |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He defeated Justin Thompson and Nick Fullwell before a quarter-final comeback win against Jim McEwan, where Duff recovered from 3–0 down to beat McEwan 4–3. He beat Richard Veenstra 5–2 in the semi-finals to reach the final, where he defeated Thibault Tricole 6–5 and became the first Northern Irish world darts champion, as well as the first player to win at the Lakeside on debut since Christian Kist at the 2012 BDO World Championship.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/darts/news/darts-results-neil-duff-wins-lakeside-final-to-become-first-world-champion-from-northern-ireland/199887 |publisher=Sporting Life|title=Darts results: Neil Duff wins Lakeside final to become first World Champion from Northern Ireland

|access-date=10 April 2022}} He won the title on his daughter Hayley's eighteenth birthday.{{Cite web |last=McKee |first=Ross |date=11 April 2022 |title=Neil Duff: NI darts player's world title is birthday gift for daughter |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-61067788 |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=BBC}} Duff's win was celebrated at an event in his home town Ballyclare that was organised by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.{{Cite web |date=1 June 2022 |title=Ballyclare welcomes home world champion Neil Duff |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/other-sport/ballyclare-welcomes-home-world-champion-neil-duff-3717108 |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=News Letter}}

At the 2023 WDF World Championship, Duff began his title defence with a 3–1 win over Moreno Blom.{{Cite web |date=6 December 2023 |title=WDF World Championships: Duff progresses to next round |url=https://www.northernirelandworld.com/sport/other-sport/wdf-world-championships-duff-progresses-to-next-round-4436011 |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=Northern Ireland World}} In the next round, he went 2–1 down against Martyn Turner but won the match 3–2 to progress to the quarter-finals.{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Samuel |date=7 December 2023 |title=Defending Lakeside champion Neil Duff survives scare as Danny Lauby casts aside Leonard Gates in all American duel |url=https://dartsnews.com/wdf/defending-lakeside-champion-neil-duff-survives-scare-as-danny-lauby-casts-aside-leonard-gates-in-all-american-duel |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=Darts News}} Duff's title defence was ended by Chris Landman who defeated Duff 4–3.{{Cite web |last=Brownlow |first=Frank |date=9 December 2023 |title=Neil Duff exits World Darts Championship and takes aim at legendary Phil 'The Power' Taylor |url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/othersports/2023/12/09/news/neil_duff_exits_world_darts_championship_before_taking_aim_at_legendary_phil_the_power_taylor-3838020/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=The Irish News}} Despite the exit, Duff was ranked number one in the WDF World Rankings after the tournament after players won PDC Tour Cards at 2024 Q-School, leading to their removal from the WDF rankings.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Kieran |date=24 January 2024 |title=WDF rankings shake up significantly after Q-School exodus |url=https://dartsnews.com/wdf/wdf-rankings-shake-up-significantly-after-q-school-exodus |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=Darts News}}

At the 2024 WDF World Championship, Duff reached the quarter-finals. He went 3–0 down to Jason Brandon but won the next three sets to level the match at 3–3. However, Brandon won the last set to beat Duff 4–3.{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Samuel |date=6 December 2024 |title=Jason Brandon continues underdog story, defeats Neil Duff in Lakeside classic as Deta Hedman reaches seventh semi-final |url=https://dartsnews.com/wdf/jason-brandon-continues-underdog-story-defeats-neil-duff-in-lakeside-classic-as-deta-hedman-reaches-seventh-semi-final |access-date=6 January 2025 |publisher=Darts News}}