The World Darts Championship is back, and with it, the captivating spectacle of skilled players battling it out on the oche. But for those new to the sport, one question often arises: why does a leg start at 501, not 500?
The answer lies in the very essence of the game's strategy and excitement. Starting at 501 forces players to utilize both odd and even numbers to reach their target, a double, for a checkout. This creates a dynamic and unpredictable journey for each player, leading to a plethora of possibilities.
Imagine a leg starting at 500. The game would become monotonous, with players only needing to hit even numbers to progress. This would drastically reduce the strategic depth and excitement of each leg.
The 501 format ensures that players must strategize their shots, considering the remaining score and the possibilities for a successful checkout. This is what makes a nine-darter so extraordinary, a perfect sequence of throws that culminates in a double finish. It's also why moments like Joe Cullen's "Big Fish" - a spectacular finish where he hits a high score followed by a double - are so captivating.
The 501 format is the foundation for the thrilling moments that make darts so unique. It allows for unexpected twists and turns, where even the most seasoned player can be undone by a single missed shot.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship
This year's PDC World Darts Championship final takes place tonight (January 3rd) at 20:00 CET with 17-year-old Luke Littler from England (pictured) taking on Dutchman Michael van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen has already won this tournament 3 times before, but bookmakers still have Littler as the big favourite to take home the title.
If you want to place a bet on the match, then make sure to check out our betting deals first!
TV-channels that will show the final: DAZN 1 Deutsch, DAZN Brasil, DAZN Canada, DAZN Italia, DAZN Japan, DAZN Switzerland, DAZN USA, Nova Sport 2 (Cze), PDC TV, Sky Sports Darts (Gbr/Irl), Sky Sports Main Event (Gbr/Irl), Sport 1 (Ger), Sport 1 (Hun), TV3 Sport (Den), Viaplay (Den), Viaplay (Fin), Viaplay (Ice), Viaplay (Ned), Viaplay (Nor), Viaplay (Pol), Viaplay (Swe), Voyo (Cze), Voyo (Svk), V Sport 2 (Fin), V Sport Xtra (Swe)
Source:
https://www.givemesport.com/why-darts-matches-start-501-not-500/
https://www.flashscore.com/darts/world/pdc-world-championship/
