AS the World Darts Championship returns to fans’ screens, people are beginning to ask questions about darts’ biggest competition.
However, they don’t want to know who’s the tournament favourite or what the winner’s prize pot will be, but rather why on earth a bullseye is only worth 50 points.
With hitting the bullseye considered as one of the hardest things to do on a dartboard, fans are questioning why it doesn’t reap the most points when achieved.
The bull’s 50 point return is instead the fifth best single-dart return on the board behind the treble 20, 19, 18 and 17.
And fans have been scratching their heads as to why the smallest target on the board doesn’t offer the most points.
However, there’s a good reason for the bull’s 50-point return – and it’s all to do with the rest of the numbers on the dartboard.
The bullseye is surrounded by a green ring that earns throwers 25 points if hit, giving players a decent return if they miss the target.
While the board’s highest return, a treble 20, is in between the one and the five on the board.
Meaning a miss could result in just one point rather than 60, massively increasing the risk of taking aim for the treble 20.
By the same token, the treble 19 is sandwiched between the seven and three on the board, and the treble 18 sits next to the one and four.
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That increased risk means that hitting the target is worth more points to a player.
While it is also suggested that the lower score is used to deter players from constantly aiming for the centre of the board.
Players do still take aim for the bull regularly with a 170 checkout – also known as ‘The Big Fish’ – requiring stars to hit two treble 20s and a bullseye.
Fans will be hoping there’s plenty of big checkouts and drama at the oche over the coming weeks during the World Darts Championship.
And the tournament has already seen its first nine-darter, after Christian Kist hit the perfect leg during his match against Madars Ramza.
The stunning set of darts earned Kist, Prostate Cancer UK and one lucky Ally Pally fan £60,000 EACH, courtesy of Paddy Power.
