WDF Darts Star Walks Off Stage at World Championship in Bizarre Scenes

A darts star has sparked controversy after unexpectedly walking off the stage in the middle of a leg at the WDF World Championship at Lakeside.

The unusual incident unfolded during Sunday's opening round match between Dalibor Smolik and Marko Kantele.

With the game tied at one set apiece, both players were pushing to take the opening leg of the third set.

Smolik required 42 to check out and take the leg.

He hit 10 with his first dart, leaving double 16 to check out, but then missed the board before finding single 16 with his final dart.

Despite Kantele failing to check out in his next visit, Smolik suddenly decided to walk off the stage.

The move left Kantele visibly confused, as the camera showed him talking to the referee, trying to understand why his opponent had left mid-leg.

The commentator was equally puzzled, but he pointed out that the match had no scheduled breaks and suggested Smolik might have needed the toilet.

He said: "Well Dalibor Smolik has just walked off the stage for reasons unknown, I wonder if he may have been caught short.

"I didn't mention there were no breaks in this game, maybe he wasn't aware of that after he won the second set.

"He did rush off the stage rather quickly. A highly irregular situation at Lakeside."

Around a minute later, Smolik came back to the stage and immediately returned to the oche.

He narrowly missed double eight with his first dart, landing the single instead, but then found double four to take the leg.

Smolik did not require another break throughout the rest of the match and took control, eventually sealing a 3-1 victory in sets to progress to the next round.

Speaking after the match, Smolik confirmed the reason he left the stage.

"I was nervous and I needed to go to the toilet, but I think I played good and I am happy," he added.

Smolik now moves into the round of 16 at the WDF World Championship, where he will face 16th seed Paul Krohne in the second round.

If he comes through that tie, he will meet top seed Jimmy van Schie in the last 16.

The tournament began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday, December 7, with the winner collecting £50,000 of a £146,000 prize fund.

Smolik has already secured £1,250 for his first-round win and that will rise to £2,000 if he can overcome Germany's Krohne in the next stage.