We are still standing up!
What a tournament. What a sporting spectacle. How do you even begin to sum it up?
Across 16 days and nights, 29 sessions, 75,000 fans journeyed to the Palace from the four corners of the World to join the fun. Meanwhile millions more tuned in on television and radio.
The action was exhilarating, unforgettable. The world’s very best doing what they do best on the biggest stage of them all, mixing it up alongside a cast of fan favourites, legends and future stars. There were massive highs, crushing lows, tension, then the release, the songs and, of course, the fancy dress. All that and Lewis Capaldi and Niall Horan too.
It built and built, all the way up to a simply brilliant finale. That leg, that nine-darter!!! And a thoroughly worthy champion “Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na Michael Smith, Michael, Michael Smith”, as the crowd sang.
Thank you to all the players, staff, everyone at the Professional Darts Corporation and SKY tv, plus many, many more, and most of all, the fans – legends one and all.
Here are some reflections from the World Darts Championship 2022/23…
“Forget the World Cup: The Darts Are the Ultimate Sporting Event” – Vice
“Christmas just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the darts” – The Guardian
“It’s the most fun I’ve had this year…” – Lewis Capaldi
Getting underway
Alexandra Palace
️ January 3
⏰ 1945 GMTGlory awaits pic.twitter.com/jVYvB35Uob
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2023
The Fans
And a reminder of how events like the Darts interact with schools and the Palace’s charitable projects.
Thanks to @apexlhub @DaubeneyHackney & @OneMrLogan1 for hosting our latest Bullseye Maths session yesterday with World Championship star Leonard Gates.
Find out more about Bullseye Maths at https://t.co/IYuDaeo9ph https://t.co/rPj2nQ6nR5
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 21, 2022
Always expect the unexpected
Lewis Capaldi and Niall Horan are IN THE BUILDING pic.twitter.com/MDcGfWk0TJ
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 16, 2022
A member of our team getting in the groove:
@pdcdartsdancers Let’s go Patrick our Ally Pally event manager #allypally #pdcdarts #alexandrapalace #pdcdancers ♬ SexyBack (feat. Timbaland) – Justin Timberlake
The final
The calm before the storm…
96 came, just two remain.
Ally Pally like you’ve never seen it before pic.twitter.com/7i1g6o83ZR
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2023
And of course… that leg
THE BEST LEG OF ALL TIME!
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN MISSES D12 FOR A NINE-DARTER, AND THEN SMITH PINS A PERFECT LEG HIMSELF!
ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS YOU’LL EVER SEE IN SPORT. pic.twitter.com/WyKWFcxq5V
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2023
A view from the tables
Relive the moment as the Ally Pally crowd ERUPT after watching the greatest leg of all time! pic.twitter.com/IFtUl1XWeO
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2023
“I CAN’T SPEAK! I CAN’T SPEAK!”
THAT reaction for the COMMENTARY BOX!! pic.twitter.com/OSderR7axb
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 3, 2023
WHAT A REACTION FROM ALLY PALLY!! ⭐️ #9darter #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/uXAxzXuvos
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 3, 2023
Breaking:
This is now a darts feed. Can’t get enough. Love the darts. I can’t speak! I can’t speak! pic.twitter.com/80cs1abjeF
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 5, 2023
When that belongs to you pic.twitter.com/AcTkXshJZr
— Michael Smith (@Michael180Smith) January 4, 2023
Until next year…
Pictures by Lloyd Winters and PDC