Fans screamed at TV as darts star survived Ally Pally wasp ‘attack’ in World Championship

The Ally Pally wasp has been causing chaos and we’re only three days into the 2026 World Darts Championship.

Defending champion Luke Littler was forced to dodge the pesky intruder after his opening round match, before Ross Smith had no idea it was rested on his collar on Friday night.

Sky Sports

And this wasp has its own nickname for a reason.

Last year, Callan ‘The Riot’ Rydz was completely unaware the iconic Alexandra Palace wasp had settled in his hair during his fourth round win.

During the opening stages of the second set in his match against Robert Owen, the wasp descended onto Rydz’s head.

Rydz was in his throwing motion when the wasp, still perched on the back of the Geordie talent’s head, decided to fly away.

It seemed just about everyone but Rydz knew the wasp was in his hair, as darts fans took to social media to point it out.

One user wrote on X: “Does Rydz know he’s got a wasp on his head?”

Another fan said: “How has Rydz not noticed the wasp chilling on his hair.”

One posted: “There’s actually a wasp on Rydz’s head and he doesn’t know.”

Rydz confirmed darts fans’ suspicions, as he exclusively revealed to talkSPORT after the match he was blissfully unaware of his encounter with the critter.

“No, I had no clue,” Rydz told talkSPORT.

“If I knew that, then I would probably have punched my head. But then I would have probably knocked myself out.

“I love that, it’s good craic. I’m just overwhelmed.”

Perhaps the insect had sneakily stung Rydz and gave him the power to come back from a two-set deficit, as the 26-year-old eliminated Owen with a 4-3 victory to progress to the quarter finals.

At the 2024 World Championship, Scott Williams had to contend with the buzzy foe as well as Australian star Damon Heta.

But instead of trying to swat the bug away, the man nicknamed ‘Shaggy’ bizarrely tried to karate chop it.

The wasp made its appearance after Williams had taken a 2-1 lead in sets.

Getty

Just as he began to celebrate, the wasp descended down onto the oche and looked to cause mayhem.

However, Williams looked to show the bug who was boss by channelling his inner Mr. Miyagi and throwing some karate chops.

Williams avoided being stung, but the same could not be said for Ross Smith.

Also at last year’s World Championship, Smith had just beaten Niels Zonneveld 3-1 in their second round match and was giving his post-match interview when disaster struck.

When asked if he could be the tournament’s dark horse, Smith replied: “Yeah honestly, without a doubt, I believe…” before he was rudely interrupted.

“There’s the wasp!” he said. “He’s just done me, he’s just stung me like a good’un, little w*****!”

Perhaps the Ally Pally wasp was sticking up for a fellow animal after Smith landed the famous checkout of 170, also dubbed the big fish, against Zonneveld.

2026 PDC World Championship Odds and Offer

2026 PDC World Darts Championship Winner Odds:

• Luke Littler – 1/1
• Luke Humphries – 7/2
• Gian van Veen – 12/1
• Gerwyn Price – 14/1
• Josh Rock – 14/1
• Michael van Gerwen – 16/1
• Nathan Aspinall – 40/1
• Stephen Bunting – 40/1

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