The Ally Pally Wasp: Darts’ Most Unlikely Star Steals the Spotlight at Alexandra Palace

The Buzzing Phenomenon at the World Darts Championship

The opening week of the 2025 World Darts Championship has been firmly upstaged by an unlikely star: the Alexandra Palace wasp, which has hogged the limelight more than ever at this year’s tournament. The Ally Pally wasp has been one of the biggest stars of the tournament so far, causing constant problems for the players, with bookmakers even taking bets on its appearances and activities.

Close Encounters and Dramatic Moments

The wasp has provided some of the most memorable moments of the championship. The Ally Pally wasp was getting a little too close to the action during the first round game between Richard Veenstra and Nitin Kumar at the World Championship, when it was remarkably hit by a dart mid-flight. Meanwhile, Kenyan darts hero David Munyua, who stunned 18th seed Mike De Decker in a historic comeback win, had the famous insect land on his face midway through the match, with Munyua swatting it away and then attempting to put it in his pocket as a good luck charm. One player, Jurjen van der Velde, arrived on stage at Alexandra Palace equipped with bug spray, which he showered the oche area in, though the wasps were not to be deterred, and Van der Velde still needed to swat one away.

Why Does This Keep Happening?

The Ally Pally wasp is likely a queen, whose hibernation has been intermittently interrupted by the lure of the warmer climate provided by the body heat of thousands in attendance at the darts each evening, plus the warmth of the stage spotlights and broadcast equipment. At this time of year, queen wasps look for somewhere warm and dry so end up in places like Alexandra Palace. Opened in 1875 and protected as a Grade II listed building, Alexandra Palace presents endless nooks and crannies for a wasp to nest through winter.

A Tradition with Championship Pedigree

The wasp’s Ally Pally debut is largely believed to have occurred during Adrian Lewis’ 2012 title defence, when The Jackpot was stung mid-match. Since then, the phenomenon has become an integral part of the tournament’s folklore. The wasp has become a feature at the Alexandra Palace sporting events held in the winter months, also appearing at the Masters snooker tournament in January. As the championship progresses, fans worldwide are watching to see what the Ally Pally wasp does next, proving that sometimes the smallest competitors create the biggest buzz.