It wasn’t just the darts that stole the show at Ally Pally on Friday evening.
A cheeky little wasp decided to make its presence known, turning the round-one clash between Lourence Ilagan and Nathan Aspinall into an unexpected comedy sketch.
The Filipino player, 47, found himself in an all-too-close encounter with the buzzing intruder.
Just as he collected his darts from the board, the insect began tailing him toward his drinks table, causing a frantic flurry of arms and evasive maneuvers.
Crowd and Commentators in Stitches
Fans erupted in laughter at the spectacle, cheering and jeering as Ilagan desperately tried to evade the wasp.
Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle couldn’t contain his amusement either, letting out a high-pitched shriek: “Oh my goodness! It’s a wasp, man. It’s not a tiger, Lourence, come on!”
Even Aspinall, 34, struggled to keep a straight face, cracking up at his opponent’s antics before regaining focus for his own throws.
The Wasp Strikes Again
As if one dramatic moment wasn’t enough, the persistent insect returned during the opening set.
Aspinall had to swat at it mid-flight, and the game was briefly paused once more.
Clearly, this wasp wasn’t content with just a cameo—it was determined to be a headline act.
A Seasoned Ally Pally Troublemaker
This isn’t the wasp’s first rodeo. Since the World Darts Championship began on December 11, it has become a recurring source of chaos and laughter.
Reigning world champion Luke Littler was seen dodging the creature during an interview on opening night, hinting at the mayhem to come.
Close Calls and Hilarious Escapades
The insect has narrowly escaped many mishaps.
Nitin Kumar once accidentally hit it with a dart, and Jurjen van der Velde tried in vain to repel it with bug spray.
Other players haven’t fared much better—Teemu Hajru felt its weight on his collar, and David Munyua ended up putting the wasp in his pocket… though it soon escaped to continue its reign of terror.
Munyua reflected on his unusual encounter: “I tried to put the wasp in my pocket to stay with me because I love going through tough things. I don’t know how it escaped.
It’s been interfering with other players. You need maximum concentration, so any little disturbance can throw you off.”
What Could Happen Next?
With the wasp showing no signs of slowing down, fans and players alike are bracing for more unexpected interruptions.
Will it target another player, or finally be caught?
One thing’s for sure: Ally Pally isn’t just about the darts this year—it’s about surviving the wasp too.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn