With Luke "The Nuke" Littler's ascendance to the throne as the new King of Darts - at just 17 years old! - the medieval pub game of darts is experiencing a renaissance. The game's popularity is continuing to rise, with more and more countries stepping up to the oche and growing interest among the younger generations. In the past 12 months alone, the number of youngsters in Britain playing darts has doubled, with 35 per cent of the nation now more interested in the sport than they were two years ago.
Of course, darts has always been popular, with legions of fans remaining loyal since its eighties heyday - who can forget Jim Bowen's Bullseye amassing more than 20 million weekly viewers when it was on TV? But now darts is in a new league all of its own, with people tuning into tournaments from across the globe.
This little guide contains 180 fun and fascinating facts, quotes and stats about the new favourite sport, an intoxicating mix of precision throwing that suddenly turns into quick-fire maths. This tiny tome celebrates not only the game's latest rise to fame, but also its cherished 1,000-year history and the long list of players who have stood proudly at the oche, either down the pub or as professionals.
With the World Darts Championship in December 2025 set to be the most viewed tournament ever, the world of darts is once again about to take flight. To quote the late, great Martin Fitzmaurice, "Are you ready? Ladies and Gentlemen... Let's... Play.... Darts!"
Sample content:
"I just wake up, play on my Xbox, have some food, have a chuck on the board, and go to bed... I don't engage with anything outside the house; I'm just level-headed."
Luke Littler, after coming second in the World Darts Championship final, ESPN, January 2024.
"When I keep focus, when I keep believing in my own ability, anything is possible. I'm not here for the jolly, I'm here to win a tournament, and we all know that."
Michael Van Gerwen, on his focus, Sky Sports, January 2025.
Slop is the term given to a lucky or unintended score, often when a dart doesn't go where it was meant to, but still earns a decent score.
