A Quick History of Darts
In a world of precision and skill, where every throw counts, there exists a sport that has transcended the dimly lit pub corners of its origin and has become a global spectacle of accuracy – darts. Deeply rooted in history, the seemingly simple game has evolved into a thrilling and highly competitive sport which has captured international attention.
The original form of darts can be traced back nearly 700 years to the medieval era of England. Although the exact start date of darts is debated among historians, most agree that darts were a pastime for bored soldiers. Historians believe that soldiers would compete with one another during their downtime by throwing spearheads or other sharp objects at the bottoms of wine casks, a circular piece of wood which resembles a modern-day dart board. Soldiers were encouraged by their higher-ups to continue playing as it improved both the soldiers’ aim and their throwing skills. Early dart players soon moved from using the bottoms of wine casks to cross sectioned tree trunks as their targets seeing as the growth rings and radial cracks of the trunks offered a natural scoring template.
The popularity of darts soon outgrew just the military and spread across the nation. Because of the simplistic nature of the rules and the fact that anyone could play darts, the game spread from soldiers to the nobles of the land. Nobles were known for placing their own spin on the game by using smaller sized darts. As the game continued to gain popularity, the lack of a standard scoring system was a hindrance to many. In 1896, Brian Gamlin invented the number system to appeal the masses. This development would mark a turning point for darts as it boosted the game from a pastime or hobby to an official sport.
After the establishment of the number system, darts became a staple for pubs across England. The National Darts Association started their operation in 1924 and the first championships began taking place. During World War II, soldiers once again played a part in the resurgence of darts. American soldiers picked up the game during this time, bringing darts back to the United States.
Even today darts is still spreading to new nations. New competitions appear each year as more people become invested in the sport. Competition winners are often awarded prizes which can vary from t-shirts to plaques to prize money. Professional dart players can receive thousands of dollars depending on their performance in official tournaments. For the PDC World Darts Championship, the first place winner received £500,000 which translates over to $637,722.50. Playing darts can be very rewarding for the first place and runners-up.
Darts is a sport for everyone to enjoy. From humble military origins to international competitions, the sport of darts has come a long way. Whether you are a seasoned player or someone new to the game, darts can be practiced and enjoyed by everyone across the world regardless of skill or experience. One of the most beautiful parts about darts is its accessibility and adaptability to the player. Throughout history darts has been a bonding experience for people across the world. A captivating game of skill, strategy, and excitement, darts has something for everybody.