5 things we’re looking forward to at the World Darts Championship

The biggest stage in world darts is set to come alive again with the PDC elite embarking on Alexandra Palace for the World Darts Championship.

Like the Grand National for horse racing and the World Cup for football this is the one event that has even the most casual of fans glued to the action.

We’re no different and there are a number of reasons for that, and here are just five:

Broken records

The odds may suggest a two horse race for the title but there is always something else to play for be it a nine-darter or a record breaking average.

Here’s Phil Taylor securing the latter in some style against old foe Raymond van Barneveld in the 2009 final.

Walk Ons

Some take the walk on seriously. Some use the power of music and the chance to walk stoney-faced from backstage to the oche as an opportunity to psyche out their opponents. Some use the same tune time and time again. Some, though, aren’t Peter Manley.

Spirits are never higher in the darts calendar than at Alexandra Palace in December and Manley plugged into the crowd’s enthusiasm for this memorable entrance.

Walk On Girls

Is there anything more glamorous than drinking pints out of plastic cups, munching on promotional packets of McCoy’s crisps and stuffing your pockets with free Swan cigarette papers? Well yes and as far as darts is concerned the glimmer of glamour comes in the shape of the Walk On girls.

While the likes of Manley may not need them, most darts players will admit they’re not likely to rival brad Pitt in the looks department, fortunately the Walk On girls are on hand to make the whole experience much easier on the eye.

Fancy Dress

As anyone who’s ever been to the World Championships and chanted at a 6ft turkey to “down his pint” will tell you fancy dress is as much a part of the tournament as the darts itself.

Darts fans, more than those who watch any other sport, really buy into the whole experience and go all out to find the perfect costume …

Final Drama

The World Darts Championship final is a unique sporting event. Where snooker covets silence in it’s tense moments darts players are forced to contend with thousands of noisy and most-likely drunk fans singing at the top of their voices.

This adds to the atmosphere and the sense of drama though and if last year’s final is anything to go by we’re in for another treat this time round.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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