| We know that dart-like items have been used | | | | in ad-hoc darts game, and in doing so "made |
| for hunting and warfare by early man, and | | | | the women of Britain darts-conscious" |
| indeed even today some tribes in South | | | | according to The Sunday Chronicle. The number |
| America, Africa and Asia continue to use blow | | | | of darts playing pubs went on to triple in |
| darts for hunting purposes. However, in terms | | | | the next two years. |
| of the modern game of darts, the early | | | | |
| history seems to have evolved from a game | | | | Darts' appeal to the general public piqued in |
| called "Puff and Dart", where players took | | | | the 80s and early 90s when the UK TV show |
| turns to fire a small sharpened dart at a | | | | 'Bullseye' aired. 'Bullseye' was a game show |
| paper or cork target. | | | | based around darts where contestants were |
| | | | paired with professional darts players, and |
| Puff and Dart became a popular game in | | | | also had to answer general knowledge |
| English inns, through history records an | | | | questions themselves. The prizes ranged from |
| unfortunate incident of a man who sucked | | | | kitchen appliances to holidays, cars, |
| rather than blew - inhaling the dart into his | | | | caravans and speedboats. |
| body, and then dying a few days later. It's | | | | |
| not known whether this affected the | | | | Since then, darts has spread across the UK |
| popularity of Puff and Dart, but we do know | | | | and the rest of the world. It is even said |
| that the game is no longer around today. | | | | that there are more pubs with dart boards in |
| | | | the centre of New York than there are in the |
| The next chapter in the history of Darts | | | | centre of London. The popularity of darts has |
| begins in the late 1870s, when the game "Dart | | | | led to big international competitions and big |
| and Target" (also known as Dartelle) | | | | prize money. The 2008 World Darts |
| appeared. Here, crude darts fashioned from | | | | Championship will be held in Alexandra Palace |
| dowel, with a pin stuck to one end and paper | | | | in London, and fans wanting to see the top |
| flights to the other, where thrown by hand | | | | names in darts will find hotels in Kings |
| into a piece of softwood board. In 1904, Dart | | | | Cross and Finsbury Park are conveniently |
| and Target became one of several "Lawful | | | | located close to the event. |
| Games on Licensed Premises", and around 1925, | | | | |
| brewers noticed the popularity of the game; | | | | Though there have been some questions raised |
| and in response, they started to organise | | | | in Britain as to whether the presence of |
| Dart and Target leagues. | | | | offensive weapons in a place full of drunk |
| | | | people is really a sensible idea, darts |
| The game received a huge publicity boost when | | | | remains a popular game in pubs all around the |
| the King and Queen of England visited a | | | | world, and international competition |
| social club in Slough and casually took part | | | | continues to attract thousands of fans. |