'When it comes to the Ally Pally and the World Darts Championship nothing beats being there'

AN UNMATCHED energy unlike any other sporting fixture. ‘Electric’ is how to simply describe being in the Alexandra Palace for the opening round of the darts.

'Ally Pally' is home to many events during the year, including snooker, but the iconic indoor arena is now best known for hosting Professional Darts Corporation’s World Darts Championship at the turn of each year.

From just prior to the the 7.10pm start to nearly 11pm, paying punters engaged in singing, chanting, dancing and drinking – as night nine of the biggest competition of the year flew by. The bulk of the crowd react to each missed double as if their weekly wage was at stake while few can pass up the opportunity to join in on the ‘180’ call with the match referee.

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To have been among the 3000-plus audience when Cappamore’s William O’Connor walked into the arena for his opening round clash was something to truly remember.

It was a hair-raising moment which saw ‘Zombie’ bellowed out by virtually everybody beneath the roof. The Cranberries could have ever foreseen their song being used in such a manner by a sport that has almost outgrown anybody’s expectations.

In 1994, when that anti-war song was released by the Limerick band, Dennis Priestley received £16,000 for winning the inaugural title, defeating Phil Taylor. The competition had just 24 participants.

Fast forward a little over thirty years and the PDC has outgrown the British Darts Organisation (now WDF) to virtually be the only show in town. So much so, that whoever lifts the Sid Wadell trophy on January 3rd will collect a cool £1,000,000.

The 128 participants in the current edition, make it the largest ever. O’Connor fell in the last 64 (second round) to Van Gerwen. It has been tough to crack the latter stages but for Limerick to have a player consistently inside the top 50 in the world shouldn’t be dismissed. 2026 will bring more opportunities for the 39-year-old, who continues as Ireland’s number one.

He still went home with £25,000 in prize money. The PDC have invested in the tour in Europe, Asia, North America, the Middle East and now Africa. It is a case of ‘watch this space’, as it continues to grow at a remarkable rate – perhaps darts has never been this glamourous.

While still considered a pub-sport in some quarters, Luke Littler has helped change that dynamic and the prediction is that the standard will continue to rise as more people get involved globally in the sport.

Littler, the current champion, is still just 18 years of age. He has been the accelerant that any sport needs to further enhance its place in the public’s consciousness. Only Phil Taylor and Michael Van Gerwen ever had such broad interest but even now, Littler’s rise seems different.

Having watched on TV for well over a decade, it is safe to say a simple line rings true of the Ally Pally experience; nothing beats being there. If it has ever tempted the sports fan in you, get tickets and go, you won’t regret it.