PDC referee had to intervene due to rare mistake commentators ‘had never seen’
Darts commentators were stunned by a rare refereeing incident at Players Championship One, which resulted in a leg being replayed
Darts spectators were left stunned by an extraordinary refereeing blunder at Players Championship One. And the debacle resulted in a leg being replayed after the official admitted his mistake.
The unusual incident occurred during William O’Connor’s match against Mario Vandenbogaerde in Hildesheim on Monday. Belgian player Vandenbogaerde had just equalised at one leg each and should have thrown first in the third leg.
Instead, O’Connor stepped up to the oche and began his throw in an attempt to regain the advantage. Both players had thrown three darts each before the referee spotted his error and stopped the action. The situation was then explained to Vandenbogaerde.
To his credit, O’Connor immediately acknowledged the mistake and apologised for failing to realise he shouldn’t have had the throw. ‘The Magpie’ made a gracious gesture towards his opponent, patting him on the chest to express his apologies.
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World No. 64 Vandenbogaerde remained entirely unfazed by the situation, although the commentary team were notably more surprised. PDC commentator Abi Davies remarked on how unusual the incident was, saying: “Well you don’t see that everyday, do you? I think that is the first time I have ever seen this. They have just seen the light.”
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Commentary partner Paul Nicholson agreed, adding: “I can’t say I have never seen that before on a livestream anyway. I have seen it in the old days when we had the pen and the board on the wall. But the leg has been scrubbed.”
The incident wasn’t entirely unprecedented as fans shared similar stories on social media. One notable instance occurred during the first match of the inaugural Premier League event in 2005, where Wayne Mardle prematurely threw first on Phil Taylor’s leg.
However, unlike this time, play carried on as the referees appeared to overlook the error. It didn’t make much difference in the end, with Taylor winning the first two legs regardless.
Darts enthusiasts also shared memories of other instances where similar circumstances had unfolded. However, it’s clear such an oversight hasn’t taken place at this level for a number of years.
O’Connor’s eagerness didn’t surprise everyone, as one fan quipped on social media: “Magpies do steal stuff…never seen one take someone’s opening throw before though!”
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The Irishman quickly shrugged off the incident, going on to win the remaining five legs and secure a 6-1 victory. He then caused an upset by defeating Gary Anderson in the third round, before being knocked out by Wessel Nijman in the last 16.
Vandenbogaerde, 52, is back competing at the highest level after having his pro tour card reinstated last month. Meanwhile, O’Connor is aiming to regain momentum after reaching the last 16 at the 2025 Masters.
