A darts prodigy has pulled off an astonishing checkout that has been achieved only twice since 2022, underlining just how rare the moment was.
Nineteen-year-old Thomas Banks has spent this season plying his trade on the PDC’s Challenge Tour, finishing 143rd in the Order of Merit out of 308 ranked players. He also took his chance at UK Q-School in a bid to earn a full PDC tour card, but narrowly missed out on reaching the final stage after falling short on leg difference.
Instead, Banks has largely focused his attention on the MODUS Super Series, a competitive alternative for players outside the PDC circuit. A host of established names have featured in MODUS events this season, including Simon Whitlock, Steve Beaton, Fallon Sherrock, Adrian Lewis and Beau Greaves.
It was Whitlock who last produced a televised 150 checkout by hitting three bullseyes — one of the rarest finishes in the sport. He achieved the feat at the Dutch Darts Championship in 2022 during a match against Sweden’s Daniel Larsson. More recently, Romeo Grbavac matched it in a MODUS clash in February 2025.
Banks joined that exclusive club back in July when he faced Steve Plumstead. Requiring 150, the teenager committed immediately to the bullseye route. His first dart landed in the left side of the bull, while the second dropped just beneath it, leaving an extremely tight target for his final throw.
Remarkably, Banks threaded his third dart into a sliver of space to the left of the first two to complete the checkout. He turned away from the board with his arms outstretched before laughing and sharing a handshake with his opponent.
The spectacular moment capped a 4–1 victory — the second time in as many days that Banks had beaten Plumstead, having edged him 4–3 the previous day.
MODUS events are typically played across five days, with players grouped into fours, sixes or eights. During his most recent appearance in September, Banks took part in a gruelling 25 best-of-seven matches over the week, recording six wins. Among them was an eye-catching victory over former PDC World Darts Championship semi-finalist Jamie Lewis, who last appeared on the professional tour in 2023.
