Darts chief Barry Hearn underwent major surgery ahead of World Championships - as PDC boss credits Paddy Power campaign with giving him the 'nudge' he needed
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Darts boss Barry Hearn has revealed he had prostate surgery before the World Championships after a Paddy Power campaign inspired him to take action. The 76-year-old was chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) for almost 20 years until he handed over the reins to son Eddie in 2021.
![[The initiative is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and encouraging fans to get themselves checked]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/13/92464103-14227261-One_fan_in_the_crowd_at_Alexandra_Palace_will_also_benefit_as_pa-a-2_1735218900811.jpg)
He oversaw a boom in darts' popularity as well as the World Championships' move to Alexandra Palace, which has played host to the tournament since 2008. This year's edition started earlier this month and has already provided fans with serious drama, with a record-breaking 14 seeds, including former champions Rob Cross and Gary Anderson, dumped out so far.
![[The likes of Luke Littler, 17, will be hoping to land 180s to raise money for the charity]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/13/93493743-14227261-image-a-3_1735219012981.jpg)
It looks set to be the biggest tournament to date with excitement over 17-year-old star Luke Littler causing ticket sales to double compared with recent years. And Hearn has been keen to draw attention to the fundraising efforts of sponsors Paddy Power, who will once again be supporting Prostate Cancer UK at the event, the Sun reports.
![[Luke Humphries will be in action when the World Championships restarts on December 27]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/13/92502345-14227261-He_will_be_vying_with_the_likes_of_Luke_Humphries_who_won_the_Wo-a-5_1735219051780.jpg)
Barry Hearn had prostatge surgery recently having been inspired by a Paddy Power campaign. The initiative is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and encouraging fans to get themselves checked. The likes of Luke Littler, 17, will be hoping to land 180s to raise money for the charity.
![[Hearn passed the role of chairman of the PDC to his son Eddie three years ago]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/26/13/93493701-14227261-image-a-4_1735219046387.jpg)
He said: 'The campaign is outstanding, it's brilliant. 'Last year the campaign said to fans, "Go and get yourself checked". I got myself checked and two months ago, I had a prostate operation, which has been 100 per cent successful. 'I'm quite health conscious but the campaign was the nudge that I needed. It's the nudge all men need. What does it cost? It doesn't cost anything.
