‘Stung into action’ – Darts star was attacked by Ally Pally wasp before World Championship win

The 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship has welcomed plenty of familiar faces – including a six-legged resident of Alexandra Palace.

After Luke Littler beat Darius Labanauskas 3-0 at the beginning of his title defence, his post-match interview was interrupted by a wasp.

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World no. 1 Littler had to duck out of the way of the airborne intruder, which is infamously known as the ‘Ally Pally wasp’.

He was lucky to avoid being stung, something that happened to Ross Smith in 2023, leading to an X-rated reaction live on television.

Scott Williams tried to karate chop the wasp that same year, and it’s been a regular visitor in 2025.

It landed on Smith’s collar, and Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde even brought a can of Raid, a wasp-killing spray, with him.

But for Adrian Lewis, the Ally Pally wasp may well have been what powered him towards 2011/12 World Darts Championship glory.

‘Obviously it worked’

Lewis, who entered as the reigning champion, went 2-0 down in his first-round match against Nigel Heydon.

‘Jackpot’ appeared to be heading towards an almighty upset in front of the Alexandra Palace crowd.

However, when walking out from the break, the Ally Pally wasp made an appearance and seemingly gave him an encouraging boost.

Lewis went on to win the match 3-2 and later reached the final, where he beat Andy Hamilton for a second consecutive world title.

Speaking to Sky Sports when sitting alongside Heydon after their match, he explained the bizarre circumstances.

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“I was two sets to nil down and then I came out of the break, had my darts in my hand and I felt a short pain,” Lewis said.

“I look down and a wasp’s stuck to my finger! Obviously I flicked it off and I’d been stung, and that’s why I’m all swollen up now.”

“Stung into action!” presenter Dave Clark joked. “Next time you’re trailing, you’ll have to ask for another one!”

Lewis replied: “Obviously it worked… No [it wasn’t his throwing hand], I was quite lucky. There were two wasps, weren’t there, Nige?”

What’s going on at Ally Pally?

With darts requiring intense levels of concentration, a wasp will no doubt come as a huge distraction to players despite their size.

But Professor Seirian Sumner, a wasp expert from University College London, has revealed why the Ally Pally wasp is such a regular.

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“At this time of year, the queen wasps look for somewhere warm and dry so end up in places like this,” they told the PDC via the BBC.

“When inside, they are drawn to light and heat, therefore end up at the stage.”

Speaking further to the BBC, Sumner added: “This is a time of year when you don’t normally encounter wasps. It is unusual.

“I believe what is probably happening is that you are using the space and it’s being heated up and that is waking up the queens prematurely before they should do.

“Or potentially it is the mild weather. We have had quite a mild spell recently and they are coming out of hibernation when they shouldn’t be.”

With £1million up for grabs for this year’s winner, the two finalists will hope that the Ally Pally wasp doesn’t make an untimely return.