Are you new to darts? Here is everything you need to know about how to play the game...
The Dartboard
The dartboard comprises 20 numbered sections fanned out from the centre of the board. These are separated by wire.
Each numbered section is divided into four: there is a double ring on the outside, a narrow treble ring in the middle of the section, and two single score wedges either side of the treble.
At the centre of the board is the bullseye. This is divided into two. The small circular area in the very centre is worth 50 and the outer ring, known as the outer bull or iris, is worth 25.
The dartboard is mounted on the wall so that the bullseye is exactly 5ft 8in (1.73m) above the floor.
The Oche
The oche or toeline, is seven feet and 9.25 inches away from the board. It is one-and-a-half inches in height and two foot long.
If a player's foot falls over the oche, no score is awarded.
The Darts
The darts themselves have a maximum length of 12 inches and top weight of 50 grams with a weighted tip, the majority of the professional players opting for arrows in the 20-25g range.
The Match
In tournament play, the two players are allowed six warm-up darts before a game begins and also on the resumption of play following an interval.
At the start of a match, both players are given one dart. Whoever throws closest to the bullseye in the centre is handed the honour of throwing first in the first leg.
The players start with a score of 501. The first one to reduce this score to zero is the winner of the leg.
The players take it in turns to step up to the oche, with each player getting three darts per visit.
If a dart bounces out from the board, no score is awarded. Similarly if it falls out within five seconds or lands in the flight of a previous dart, nothing is scored.
The final checkout down to zero has to be secured through a double or a bullseye. If a player goes bust with any of their three darts, then they start again at the score at the start of that visit to the oche.
Each tournament has a different amount of legs and sets needed to win each round, increasing in total as the rounds progress towards the final.
