During the World Darts Championship, wasps have created quite a stir at the prestigious event. The latest incident occurred when player Jurjen van der Velde took a unique approach to control the flying pests by using bug spray.
Darts Player Uses Wasp Spray at Ally Pally
On Tuesday night, Van der Velde arrived at Alexandra Palace, prepared to face the wasp problem head-on. Despite spraying the oche area with bug repellant, he still encountered a wasp during his match.
The Match and Aftermath
Van der Velde faced Danny Noppert in the first round of the tournament but unfortunately lost with a score of 3-1. The emotional debut left Van der Velde teary-eyed. Social media aptly noted his state, humorously questioning if the tears were due to the wasp spray.
- Van der Velde’s spray tactic did little to deter the pesky insects.
- In a previous match, Luke Littler had to dodge wasps during his post-game interview.
- Teemu Harju also had to flick away a wasp at the oche earlier.
The History of Wasps at the Championship
Wasps are not a new issue at the World Darts Championship. Alexandra Palace’s wooded surroundings provide an ideal environment for these insects, especially with the indoor lighting attracting them.
The wasps typically become less active in winter; however, the lighting draws them out, making their presence felt on stage. This peculiar problem has historical significance, dating back to a notable incident in 2012 when world champion Adrian Lewis was stung during a match.
Player Reactions
Several players have experienced similar wasp encounters. Nitin Kumar even hit a wasp mid-air with a dart. Ted Evetts humorously waved goodbye to a wasp that landed on his shirt collar.
As wasps continue to be a nuisance at this year’s tournament, players at all levels must adapt. The challenge now is not only to succeed against their opponents but also against unexpected intrusions from nature.
