1 week Ago By Amos Murphy
Barry Hearn has laid down the gauntlet to the Saudis insisting the World Darts Championship won't be heading to the Middle Eastern nation until alcohol is permitted. As Littler mania reaches fever pitch ahead of this year's World Championship at the Alexandra Palace, the conversation of moving the event away from north London has once again popped up. A larger venue in the capital has been mooted, as well as moving the event around Europe and perhaps even the world.
Among the alternative suggestions has been Saudi Arabia, as they look to build on their already vast influence over the world of sport. Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, Hearn said: “I’ve taken a couple of big events out there and the players are loving it. We actually start the 167 event next week, next Wednesday, before the Fury Usyk fight.
“This is our busiest time of the year. I mean, the Saudis asked me for darts about a couple of months ago, and I asked them a simple question - ‘Can we have alcohol?’ And they said no. And I said, ‘Well, then you can’t have the darts’.
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