The World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace has been disrupted by a persistent wasp, which has become a recurring nuisance during the tournament. The insect has targeted players during matches and interviews, causing them to duck, swat, or step away from the oche.
Defending champion Luke Littler was seen dodging the wasp during a post-match interview after his first-round win over Darius Labanauskas. Ross Smith remained unaware of a wasp on his neck as he threw, while former champion Rob Cross had one on his shoulder during an interview.
Other incidents include Ted Evetts flicking a wasp off his cheek before losing to Luke Humphries, and the insect being struck by Nitin Kumar during his historic win. Martin Lukeman appeared to be stung during his match, and Dirk van Duijvenbode stepped back from the oche to avoid the pest.
The wasp continued its antics on Tuesday night, disrupting the match between Nick Kenny and Justin Hood. Hood held his nerve to win 3-0. As the tournament progresses, the wasp remains an unpredictable element, adding a sting to the proceedings.
