Darts: Thousands of boozy fans flock to Ally Pally for first night of the 2023 World Championship

Thousands of alcohol-fueled supporters packed Alexandra Palace to watch the first night of the 2023 World Darts Championship on Thursday night.

Drunken attendees flocked to London and watched Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright win handily at the curtain call event, with the vast majority of attendees dressed up in costumes and singing their heads off.

Reigning champions Wright, from Scotland, won 3-0 against Michael ‘Clonoe Cyclone’ Mansell, but the best performance of the night went to the darts fans, who put on an incredible spectacle of color and sound inside the Haringey arena .

Thousands flocked to Alexandra Palace for the first night of the World Darts Championship

Defending champion Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright defeated Mickey Mansell 3-0 in the second round

Drunken fans packed the London Ally Pally Arena to watch the start of the 2023 competition

The vast majority of attendees were dressed up (above) and sang until they were hoarse

The fans enjoyed four games, three in the first round and one clash in the second round

These attendees got into the festive spirit when they dressed up in Christmas elf costumes (above).

The competition format involves the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit, who enter in the second round.

Prior to that, the top 32 ranked members of the PDC Pro Tour who were not yet ranked joined in the first round.

This last group faces 32 qualifiers from around the world in the first round.

The first three matches saw two upsets as the crowd was treated to a pair of surprise wins by the underdog.

After Northern Ireland’s Mickey Mansell defeated New Zealand’s Ben Robb 3-1, South Africa’s Grant Sampson beat Ireland’s Keane Barry by the same scoreline.

Mansell’s compatriot Nathan Rafferty edged out favorite Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in a thrilling 3-2.

Unfortunately for Mansell, his first round victory saw him up against defending champion Wright in the second round, who did not drop a set en route to a sure victory.

Players in action in Friday’s eight games include

Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis, a two-time PDC World Darts Champion (in 2011 and 2012) will take on Daniel Larsson from Sweden.

Then last year’s losing finalist, defeated by Wright in the main event, Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith takes on Rafferty.

Others led chants dressed in caveman costumes while entertaining themselves between games.

Others dressed up as computer game characters Mario and Luigi while enjoying various drinks.

Out of this world: a large group of astronauts and a space rocket appear in Haringey