‘Just kill it’ – Luke Littler forced to step away from oche as Ally Pally wasp returns

Luke Littler faced a familiar foe in his bid to retain his world championship title – with the return of the famous Ally Pally wasp.

The winged insect has already provided the Nuke with his sternest tournament test in the first-round and returned for the final.

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Littler found himself in complete control in Saturday’s showpiece against Gian van Veen until the arrival of the infamous Ally Pally wasp.

The 18-year-old came from a set down to race into a commanding 3-1 set lead, with the scores level at one a piece in the fourth.

Ally Pally wasp returns for final

Much to the delight of the crowd, Littler dodged and weaved as the defending champion was chased by the wasp.

Play is paused for a few seconds as the world number one attempts to avoid being stung.

Ian Danter said live on talkSPORT: “It’s on a mission, that wasp!”

Paul Nicholson added: “The audacity of that wasp to wait for the final, talk about a show pony!”

Littler then attempts to swat the troublesome wasp after the distraction leads to a trebless visit.

The crowd then chant for the Ally Pally wasp after referee George Noble also has to dodge the insect.

Sky Sports Darts’ Wayne Mardle remarked: “The wasp! We know who the real champion is!”

Mardle added: “Just kill it!”

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Sky Sports

What has Littler said about it?

The Ally Pally wasp has been missing for over a week, but it couldn’t have picked a more apt time to reappear for the final.

It previously made a nuisance of itself in the immediate aftermath of Littler’s opening round win over Darius Labanauskas a month ago.

Littler was asked about his altercation with the wasp following that win, telling talkSPORT: “I saw it in the second set, or halfway through the first, I can’t remember, and then it just disappeared.

“I was like, ‘yeah, it’s gone’. Then as soon as the interview comes, it comes back, but managed to dodge it.”

He was lucky to avoid being stung like Ross Smith was in 2023, with Scott Williams trying to karate chop the wasp that same year.

Why are there so many at Ally Pally?