The notorious Ally Pally wasp cemented its status as the unofficial star of the PDC World Darts Championship on Friday night, sending Filipino player Lourence Ilagan into a frantic, crowd-pleasing retreat during his first-round match.
Ilagan's Oche Ordeal
The incident unfolded at London's Alexandra Palace as Ilagan, 47, retrieved his darts. The buzzing insect, which has become a regular fixture of the tournament, began to pursue him towards his drinks table. Opponent Nathan Aspinall, 34, was first to spot the danger, alerting a suddenly petrified Ilagan.
Realising he was the insect's next target, Ilagan reacted with pure comedy, flailing his arms and darting away from the oche to avoid a potential sting. The Sky Sports cameras captured the entire episode, much to the delight of the roaring crowd and commentator Wayne Mardle.
Mardle could be heard shrieking with laughter, exclaiming: 'Oh my goodness! It's a wasp, man. It's not a tiger, Lourence, come on!' The broadcast then cut to Aspinall, who was visibly struggling to contain his amusement before recomposing himself for his own throw.
A Persistent Tournament Pest
This was far from the wasp's only appearance. It returned later in the same opening set, forcing Aspinall to take a swipe at it and causing another brief halt in play. The insect has been a constant, chaotic presence since the championship began on December 11.
Its reign of terror has included several notable moments:
- Reigning champion Luke Littler ducking and weaving to avoid it during a post-match interview on the opening night.
- Being struck by a dart thrown by India's Nitin Kumar.
- Surviving Dutch player Jurjen van der Velde's attempts to dispatch it with bug spray.
- Landing on the collar of Finland's Teemu Hajru and later on the face of Kenya's David Munyua.
Munyua's encounter was particularly memorable, as he attempted to capture the wasp in his pocket. 'I tried to put the wasp in my pocket to stay with me, because I love going through tough things,' he explained. 'I don't know how it escaped. You need maximum concentration... so when you get little disturbance...'
More Than Just a Sting in the Tail
The recurring wasp saga has provided an unexpected layer of entertainment to the high-pressure tournament, showcasing the players' reactions to an unpredictable, non-human opponent. It highlights the challenge of maintaining focus amidst unusual distractions, even at the sport's pinnacle event.
While the insect's future appearances remain uncertain, its legacy at the 2025 World Darts Championship is already assured. From Ilagan's sprint to Munyua's pocket, the Ally Pally wasp has buzzed its way into darting folklore, proving that sometimes the biggest drama doesn't come from the checkouts, but from a tiny, winged spectator.
