Wasp Disrupts World Championship Causing Chaos Before Being Struck by Dart
A recent World Championship match at Alexandra Palace took an unexpected turn when a wasp disrupted the competition. The incident occurred during the first round, where Nitin Kumar faced Richard Veenstra. Kumar’s dart struck the wasp mid-air, causing a brief interruption in the match.
The Unwelcome Visitor at Alexandra Palace
The wasp made its presence felt during several critical moments of the championship, especially bothering players during interviews and matches. Defending world champion Luke Littler had a notably uncomfortable experience with the insect after his first-round victory.
Players Encountering the Wasp
As Littler conducted his post-match interview, he had to dodge the wasp before continuing. The insect continued buzzing on stage and later disrupted Ross Smith’s game against Andreas Harrysson.
- Ted Evetts also had a memorable encounter during his match against world No. 2 Luke Humphries.
- During the game, Evetts flicked the wasp off his shirt collar before waving it goodbye.
A History of Wasp Interactions
This incident is not the first of its kind at the World Darts Championship. Previous years have seen similar chaos:
- In 2024, a 16-year-old Luke Littler had to avoid a wasp while defeating Brendan Dolan.
- Stephen Bunting faced a wasp encounter in 2020.
- In 2022, Danny Noppert experienced a similar distraction.
- Gary Anderson and Jamie Lewis also battled with a wasp in 2018, following Peter Wright’s encounter the previous year.
Conclusion
The presence of wasps during the World Championship has become a quirky part of the event’s history, adding an unexpected layer of challenge for players. As the competition continues at Alexandra Palace, fans and players alike will hope for a less chaotic atmosphere moving forward.
