Sports
Why Darts Matches Start on 501 Not 500
The World Darts Championship is nearing its conclusion as Luke Littler looks to defend his title and become a two-time world champion, with the semi-finals taking place this evening, the 2nd of January, and the final taking place tomorrow, the 3rd of January.
Littler will kick-start the semis this evening at Alexandra Palace as he takes on Ryan Searle, who has only dropped two sets so far this tournament, this despite having a rare incurable eye condition which means he sometimes can’t see where his darts land on the board. After that, Gian van Veen will take on Gary Anderson, with the former knocking out Luke Humphries in emphatic fashion in the quarters.
Due to the emergence of Littler over the last two years, darts has absolutely skyrocketed in popularity. Shows are being sold out all over the country, and even into Europe and further afield, and prize money for events keeps on growing and growing and growing. This year, for example, the winner of the World Darts Championship will take home a cool £1,000,000 – the first time ever the prize money has been that high.
But, with new fans comes new questions and queries. Not everyone picks it up immediately and not everyone knows the rules straight off the bat. One of the biggest questions that new fans may wonder is why a leg starts on 501 and not 500, so let us explain to you the reason behind that.
The Reason Darts Legs Start on 501 Explained
The likes of Littler and Luke Humphries have helped to grow the sport over the last two or three years. Combining the sheer drama of the sport with their personalities and genuine talent makes for unique viewing. The fact that a leg of darts starts on 501 helps to spice up the action even more.
Why, then, is 501 the magic number at the start of every leg? A question with straightforward reasoning, it gives an interesting insight into just how one number can change the way the game is played.
If a leg were to start on 500, players wouldn’t have to use odd numbers to get down to 0, and this would lead to very monotonous games. Bumping the starting figure to 501 means players have to use both odd and even numbers on their way to securing a double finish, which leads to endless possibilities within every game.
A lot of the intrigue in a game of darts is the journey each game takes a player on. Whether it is an infamous nine-darter or a Big Fish, a 501 leg is the reason for so many unique moments.
So there you have it, there’s no real mad theory behind why a match starts on 501 rather than simply 500. It’s just to make the proceedings a bit more interesting and a bit more challenging for the players. And let’s face it, when Luke Littler’s standing on the oche, the sport needs to be more challenging.
