The PDC World Championship at London's Alexandra Palace has seen an unexpected opponent buzzing around the oche: a persistent wasp. The insect has become an unlikely star of the tournament's opening days, distracting players and forcing one debutant to take drastic defensive measures.
Van der Velde's Pre-emptive Strike
Unseeded Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde arrived for his first-round match against compatriot Danny Noppert ready for battle on two fronts. Well aware of the insect's previous disruptions, Van der Velde walked on stage brandishing a can of insect spray. He made a show of spraying the aerosol around and above his head before the match commenced, a precaution that proved wise.
During the second set, the wasp returned, forcing Van der Velde to bat it away from his face as he concentrated on his throws. His prepared approach highlighted how the 'Ally Pally wasp' had become a genuine concern for competitors at one of darts' most prestigious events.
A Trail of Tungsten Trouble
The wasp's mischievous run began earlier in the tournament. Defending champion Luke Littler had to duck and weave to avoid it during a post-match interview after his first-round win over Darius Labanauskas on Thursday, 19 December 2024.
The following day, Ross Smith remained completely oblivious to the insect perched on the back of his neck as he threw during his surprise 3-2 defeat to Andreas Harrysson. Former world champion Rob Cross also failed to notice the wasp on his shoulder during an interview after his 3-0 victory over Cor Dekker.
The weekend brought no respite. Ted Evetts flicked the wasp off his cheek en route to losing to Luke Humphries, while it survived being hit by Nitin Kumar's dart during his historic win over Richard Veenstra. On Monday evening, Martin Lukeman appeared to be stung during the opening leg of his match against Max Hopp.
Players on High Alert
The persistent pest has put the entire field on high alert. Dirk van Duijvenbode stepped back off the oche during his match against Andy Baetens to maintain a safe distance. The trend continued into Tuesday, 20 December, when Chris Dobey was also seen batting the insect away during his victory over Xiaochen Zong.
This series of encounters has transformed a common insect into a headline act, proving that at the Alexandra Palace, the challenges can come from both the opponent at the board and the uninvited guest circling the stage.
