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