Wasp Stings Luke Littler in World Darts Championship Final

In a remarkable incident during the World Darts Championship final, reigning champion Luke Littler faced an unexpected interruption. While competing against Gian van Veen, a wasp flew into Littler’s face, causing him to halt his play in the fifth set. This disruption prompted a brief pause in the match as officials attempted to rid the stage of the pesky insect.

Luke Littler’s Dominance in the Championship

Despite the distraction, Littler maintained focus. At the time, he was leading the match, ultimately extending his advantage to 4-1 in the best-of-13 final format. His goal was clear: defend his title and solidify his position as a top player in the darts world.

Wasp Incidents at the Tournament

This was not the first time wasps made headlines during the tournament. Earlier in the championship, Jurjen van der Velde drew attention by spraying insect repellent before his first-round match. The crowd found this amusing, especially as van der Velde was later seen wiping his face with a cloth.

The Professional Darts Corporation, who organize the event, humorously questioned on social media whether van der Velde was sentimental about the match or had accidentally sprayed bug spray in his eyes.

A Recurring Nuisance

The presence of wasps has been a recurring theme at this year’s World Darts Championship. Here are some notable incidents involving players interrupted by these insects:

• Luke Littler dodged a wasp during a post-match interview after defeating Darius Labanauskas.
• Ross Smith remained unaware of a wasp on his neck during his surprising defeat to Andreas Harrysson.
• Rob Cross did not notice a wasp on his shoulder following his victory over Cor Dekker.
• Ted Evetts flicked a wasp off his cheek before losing to Luke Humphries.
• Nitin Kumar accidentally struck a wasp during his match against Richard Veenstra.
• Martin Lukeman appeared to be stung while facing Max Hopp, who won the match 3-1.
• Dirk van Duijvenbode stepped back from the oche during his game with Andy Baetens to avoid the flying nuisance.

The chaos caused by these wasps has added an unusual element to the championship, much to the entertainment of spectators and players alike. As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen how these insects will continue to interact with the competitors.