Royals should pay to see darts at Ally Pally, says the game’s supremo

The Royal Family are no strangers to major sporting events – but darts supremo Barry Hearn admitted that he and other well-earning Premier League footballers must pay their way

Darts supremo Barry Hearn has said even the Royal Family must pay to enjoy the game at Ally Pally. The darts boss said he gets them asking him for tickets along with Premier League footballers on £300,000 a week who try to “ponce” off him.

But he refuses to be wowed by their status and said: “I make ’em all pay. You want to go to the darts? Give me and the sport the respect it deserves or I’ll see you later… maybe next Tuesday.”

His comments come ahead of the start of the World Darts Championship tomorrow (Thurs), with the winner taking home £1million – double last year’s prize.

The 77-year-old president of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) said: “I’ll get that prize money up to £100million if I live long enough.”

He also said he reckons he could get £20m out of the Saudis to host the darts.

But it’s “not going to be a good event” as “they aren’t ready yet”.

“We aren’t existing in a goldfish bowl any more,” he explains. “We’re seeing kids show up from all over.

“I saw a kid the other day, he’s the Mongolian champion. F*** me, he’s good.

“We’ve got a Premier League in Australia going, we’ve got one in China going, we’ve got one in the USA starting next year.

“My recurring nightmare is that we’ll end up with a young Chinese player who has a nine-darter every time he throws and it just kills the game stone dead.

“It does get me thinking sometimes if I’ve taken things too far.”

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