Controversy
A fascinating element of each World Championship is the
signature sideshow that runs alongside it.
2006 saw Peter Manley light the fuse with his gamesmanship tactics
on a youthful Adrian Lewis, before Chris Mason launched a newspaper
tirade on Phil Taylor a year later, which led to an on-stage confrontation
between the pair.
Photo: Mike Glover/UK Darts Magazine
The standard of the ProTour and major televised events so far this year
all point to more monumental matches than ever before.
In recent years, we’ve witnessed ‘draft-gate’, ‘mural-gate’ and ‘handshake-gate’ hit the tabloid headlines – it’s anyone’s guess as to what
comes next!
Outrageous Fancy Dress
The tournament has become synonymous with fancy dress costumes,
so much so that residents of the surrounding Muswell Hill area would
simply not bat an eyelid should a group of smurfs or traffic cones stroll
through the high street over World Championship fortnight.
And with Wayne Mardle ceremoniously on-hand to dish out prizes for
the most eye-catching attire inside Ally Pally, this year’s competition
could be as fierce as that on the stage itself!
Photo: Mike Glover/UK Darts Magazine
From an elephant, to a wardrobe, to a giant Peperami,
anything goes at the people’s palace.
Girls
Walk on girls: perhaps the only two figures to take to the
stage more famous than some of the players themselves.
And it’s fair to say that alpha-male darts fans will get their annual fix
of glitz and glamour to accompany their mulled wine and mince pies
this Christmas.
Stand Up If You Love The Darts
Darts signature chant has gone global since deriving from the
Ally Pally terraces 12 months ago, and with a feast of unmissable
arrows on the way once again, prepare to rise from your sofas, or in
fact join in with your fellow darts disciples in the arena, to stand up in
a declaration of love for the darts.
Photo: Mike Glover/UK Darts Magazine
Only at the Ally Pally could an established dance troop, wearing outfits
that leave little to the imagination, muster up a routine for Andy
Smith’s ‘Just eat it’ walk-on, or even better – Vincent van der Voort’s
trademark entrance to KC and the Sunshine band.