Darts players today are wrapped in cotton wool, they have minders & don’t drink during matches, says legend Bobby George
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FROM Ali G and Super Mario outfits to people kitted out as fried eggs, Smurfs and traffic cones, fancy dress is rarely dafter than among the fans at dart tournaments. They will be at it again on Friday for the PDC World Darts Championship final at North London’s Alexandra Palace.
![[Darts legend Bobby George says the sport has gone soft]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/783b9c44-77e1-4193-be7a-0f3fca4f774e.jpg?strip=all&w=677)
But much of the fun is down to one man, oche great Bobby George, who in the Seventies and Eighties was a star of the game — and beyond — as much for his outlandish attire as his skill with the arrows. Like no one before him, in a cape, sequins and bling, and stepping out for matches to his theme tune of Queen’s We Are The Champions, the natural showman nicknamed Bobby Dazzler inspired spectators to also dress up for the party.
![[The oche king with his trademark candelabra]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/embassy-world-professional-championship-959175738.jpg?strip=all&w=693)
Bobby, 79, features in new Sky Documentaries series Dart Kings, which looks at the legends of the sport and starts on Saturday. And he reckons what changed the game for ever was the 1980 Embassy World Darts Championship final, where he faced off against Eric “The Crafty Cockney” Bristow.
![[Bob and old pal Jocky Wilson in 1982]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/embassy-world-professional-championship-semi-959175073.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Bobby stepped out in a sequinned shirt — and officials added to the fun by producing a candelabra for him to hold, in the style of legendary US singer-showman Liberace, who would place one atop his piano at shows. He tells The Sun: “I thought, if I dress up more, not just a T-shirt, people will never forget me.
![[Last year, the talk of the darts world was newcomer Luke Littler, who was just 16 when he burst onto the scene]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/luke-littler-england-celebrates-victory-960649166_4032f8.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
