Darts Fun Facts & Trivia
Fascinating Facts About Darts
The game of darts is filled with interesting history, surprising statistics, and entertaining stories. From its ancient origins to modern professional play, here are some of the most fascinating facts and trivia about the world of darts.
Historical Origins
Ancient Beginnings
Darts originated in medieval England during the 14th century. Soldiers would throw short arrows at the bottom of wine barrels or at the cross-section of a tree to pass the time between battles.
From Pub Game to Professional Sport
Darts was originally considered a pub game and was banned in some English pubs in the early 20th century because it was classified as a game of chance rather than skill. It wasn't until 1908 that a Leeds pub owner successfully argued in court that darts was a game of skill by having his regular customer hit any number called out by the court.
The First Dartboard
The numbering system on modern dartboards was created by Brian Gamlin in 1896. He arranged the numbers to penalize inaccuracy, with large numbers placed adjacent to small ones to reduce the chance of scoring high by accident.
Surprising Darts Facts
The King's Darts
King Henry VIII was an avid darts player and received a set of ornate darts as a gift from Anne Boleyn. These luxury darts were adorned with gold and silver and featured turkey feathers.
Traditional Dartboards
Traditional dartboards were made from elm wood and soaked in water overnight to heal the holes made by darts. Modern boards are typically made from sisal fibers (a type of agave plant) which are compressed to form the playing surface.
Darts in Space
Astronauts on the International Space Station have played darts using magnetic darts and dartboards. In zero gravity, the game requires a completely different technique!
The Weight of Professional Darts
Professional darts typically weigh between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring darts in the 22-26 gram range. The maximum weight allowed under official rules is 50 grams.
Professional Darts Trivia
The Perfect Game
A perfect game of 501 requires just nine darts (known as a "nine-darter"). The odds of an amateur player throwing a nine-dart finish are estimated at 10,000 to 1, while even professional players might only achieve this feat a few times in their career.
Walk-On Music
Professional darts players have signature "walk-on" music and entrances, similar to boxers or wrestlers. Phil Taylor's iconic entrance to "The Power" by Snap! and Peter Wright's dance to "Don't Stop the Party" are fan favorites.
Nickname Culture
Almost every professional darts player has a nickname. Some famous ones include Phil "The Power" Taylor, Michael "Mighty Mike" van Gerwen, Peter "Snakebite" Wright, and James "The Machine" Wade.
The Split in Darts
In 1992, a group of top players broke away from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form the World Darts Council (later renamed the Professional Darts Corporation or PDC). This split created two separate world championships that ran concurrently until the BDO folded in 2020.
Fun Darts Statistics
Dartboard Mathematics
There are 82,161 possible ways to score 501 exactly with 9 darts, but only 3,944 of these combinations end with a double out.
The Distance
The standard throwing distance in darts is 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters) from the face of the dartboard. This distance is known as the "oche" (pronounced "ock-ey").
Television Viewership
The PDC World Darts Championship final can attract television audiences of over 4 million viewers in the UK alone, making it one of the most-watched sporting events during the Christmas and New Year period.
Prize Money Growth
The prize money for darts has increased dramatically. The first World Championship in 1978 had a total prize fund of £10,500 with the winner receiving £3,000. By comparison, the 2023 PDC World Championship had a prize fund of £2.5 million with the winner receiving £500,000.
Unusual Darts Facts
Darts and Beer
Some professional players believe that having a beer or two before playing can improve their game by helping them relax. This is known as the "beer scope" theory, though most top professionals now avoid alcohol during competition.
The Longest Match
The longest recorded darts match lasted over 13 hours in a local tournament in Yorkshire, England. The players were so evenly matched that neither could gain a decisive advantage to win the match.
Darts Superstitions
Many darts players are superstitious. Some refuse to wear certain colors, others have specific routines before throwing, and some even name their darts. Peter Wright is known for changing his dart setup frequently, sometimes even between matches.
Darts Jokes & Humor
Bullseye Humor
Why don't darts players ever get angry? Because they always hit the point eventually!
Dartboard Wisdom
What did the dartboard say to the dart? "You're really starting to get on my nerves!"
Professional Problems
I was going to join a professional darts team, but I couldn't quite hit it off with the other players.
Darts Philosophy
Life is like a game of darts - sometimes you hit the bullseye, sometimes you hit the wall, and sometimes you hit the person standing next to you.
Pub Logic
How many darts players does it take to change a light bulb? One to change it and five to stand around saying "I could have done that."