Fans across globe

DARTS has come a long way from being played to small crowds in smoke-filled dingy venues.

Sell-out audiences and millions of TV viewers are hooked on the sport. Even US channels screened matches from the World Championships.

When the Professional Darts Corporation released 68,000 tickets in July, most went within 48 hours. This year fans in Europe bought one third of them.

It has only been 10 years since the tournament was moved to Alexandra Palace but PDC chief executive Matt Porter says it is already an “iconic” event.