UPDATE: In a surprising turn of events during the PDC World Darts Championship final on January 3, 2024, Luke Littler narrowly avoided an attack from an “Ally Pally wasp” while competing against Gian van Veen at Alexandra Palace in London. The incident occurred as the 18-year-old champion from Warrington was leading the match, with a score of 3-1 in sets.
As Littler prepared to take his shot, the wasp swooped in, prompting him to duck and weave on stage, much to the delight of the enthusiastic audience. After the momentary distraction, Littler laughed off the incident, returning to the oche to continue his pursuit of the sport’s top prize for the second consecutive year.
Sky Sports commentator John Part humorously remarked, “What would an Ally Pally final be without a wasp?!” This quirky moment highlights the ongoing presence of wasps at the championship, a phenomenon that has garnered attention in recent weeks. Fans have witnessed these insects interrupting players’ throws and even invading post-match interviews.
Earlier in the tournament, Littler had to sidestep a wasp after a successful first-round victory. In another notable incident, a wasp collided with Nitin Kumar‘s dart mid-flight. Other players, such as Jurjen van der Velde, have taken precautionary measures, bringing bug spray to the stage to ward off the pesky insects, while Ross Smith experienced three stings during his round-three match last year.
The “Ally Pally wasp” has become somewhat of a mascot for the championship, with fans even chanting, “Stand up, if you love the wasp.” As the final match progresses, all eyes remain on Littler and van Veen, as the tension builds and the stakes rise.
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