The notorious Ally Pally wasp seemed to make a comeback during the first match of Monday evening’s session at the World Darts Championship. Martin Lukeman, the 2024 Grand Slam runner-up, was up against German Max Hopp, aiming to regain his previously lost form.

However, his challenge became even more difficult when he appeared to be stung during his first set defeat. Lukeman didn’t manage a single dart at the double as Hopp dominated the first set.

While Hopp was securing the opening leg of the game, ‘Smash’ seemed to react to something buzzing around him and landing on him. Fans flocked to social media to confirm if the wasp had indeed made its infamous return, a topic that has gained more attention since tournament title sponsor Paddy Power announced that bets could be placed on the wasp’s antics.

From Monday, December 15th onwards, the bookmaker is offering six different novelty bets on the wasp, with the shortest odds of 1/4 for the wasp to be seen on the broadcast again.   Odds of 9/1 are offered for the wasp causing a delay of one minute or more. The wasp being spotted on three or more days of the broadcast stands at 16/1.

More ambitious odds of 22/1 are given for the wasp landing on the Treble 20. It’s 28/1 for the insect to sting a player on air, and the same odds apply for it to sting MC John McDonald on stage.

The highest odds of 100/1 are offered if the wasp is hit by a dart mid-flight. Following Paddy Power’s release of their novelty betting market and Lukeman’s apparent distraction by an airborne pest, one punter questioned whether the 28/1 odds would result in a payout.

“Ayyyy Paddy Power give us a VAR CHECK on that wasp. Lukeman was defo stung!” one user said. “ALLY PALLY WASP GOT LUKEMAN,” another fan insisted.

The invasion of wasps at Alexandra Palace is hardly unprecedented, with hordes of the insects having disrupted and harassed both darts and snooker competitors throughout the years.

This year’s initial wasp encounter occurred on opening night when Luke Littler was compelled to dodge and weave to avoid the buzzing menace attempting to land on him.