A uncommon referee blunder compelled the identical leg to be performed twice, as darts commentators could not fairly imagine what that they had witnessed.
William O’Connor’s conflict with Mario Vandenbogaerde needed to have a leg restarted in a weird twist (Picture: PDC) This text incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, we’ll obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
Darts followers had been blown away by a reasonably distinctive refereeing mistake at Gamers Championship One. And the gaffe resulted in a complete leg being replayed because the official needed to maintain up his fingers.
The incident unfolded throughout William O’Connor’s conflict towards Mario Vandenbogaerde in Hildesheim on Monday. Belgian contender Vandenbogaerde had simply pulled stage at one leg apiece and will have been first to throw within the third. Nevertheless, it was as an alternative O’Connor who stepped up and took his subsequent darts in an effort to regain the lead. Each he and ‘Tremendous Mario’ threw three darts apiece earlier than the referee observed his error and referred to as a halt to play. It was then defined to Vandenbogaerde simply what had occurred. In his defence, O’Connor held up his fingers and apologised for not noticing that he had the fitting of approach for the third leg.
‘The Magpie’ made a well mannered gesture to his opponent and patted him on the chest to speak his condolences. World No. 64 Vandenbogaerde was completely relaxed on the matter, although the identical could not be mentioned for these within the media sales space.
Abi Davies chimned in on PDC commentary and illustrated simply how uncommon the prevalence was: “Nicely you don’t see that on a regular basis, do you? I feel that’s the first time I’ve ever seen this. They’ve simply seen the sunshine.”
Commentary colleague Paul Nicholson concurred, including: “I can’t say I’ve by no means seen that earlier than on a livestream anyway. I’ve seen it within the outdated days after we had the pen and the board on the wall. However the leg has been scrubbed.”
It appears the episode wasn’t completely distinctive as followers shared their anecdotes on social media. One notably outstanding instance came about within the opening match of the primary Premier League occasion, the place Wayne Mardle jumped the gun by throwing first on Phil Taylor’s leg.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE?!
Willie O’Connor threw first on Mario Vandenbogaerde’s throw, inflicting the leg to be restarted! ??????
?????? https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8 #PC1 pic.twitter.com/EXZSEuIohS
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 9, 2026
Not like on this event, nonetheless, play continued because the referees appeared to not discover. Not that it mattered a lot, as Taylor claimed each of the opening legs regardless.
Not everybody was stunned by O’Connor’s quickness off the mark, as one spectator wrote on social media: “Magpies do steal stuff… by no means seen one take somebody’s opening throw earlier than although!”
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The Irishman swiftly put the incident behind him as he proceeded to take every of the 5 remaining legs and triumphed 6-1. He then accomplished a third-round upset of Gary Anderson earlier than falling to Wessel Nijman within the spherical of 16.
Vandenbogaerde, 52, is again competing on the high after having his professional tour card reinstated final month. O’Connor, in the meantime, is hoping to construct a head of steam once more after reaching the final 16 on the 2025 Masters.
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