Sky Sports presenter ‘had heart palpitations’ at World Darts Championship after crowd almost reduced star to tears
OCHE rock chick Polly James reckons that it’s been the LOUDEST and MADDEST World Championship yet.
The Sky Sports reporter has been in the thick of the action at the Ally Pally with live post-match interviews with winning players.
James insists that it’s become one of the most tricky jobs because of the noise in the arena.
She revealed: “It’s been the loudest and maddest it has ever been at the Ally Pally.
“You simply can’t hear yourself think after the match has finished. I’m sure darts fans are the noisiest in the world. It’s insane.
“When Peter Wright beat Luke Humphries I’ve never known anything like it.
“Peter said it himself, he was shocked by the atmosphere. He was close to tears because of the support he got. I told him on stage I had heart palpitations, it was a wave of noise.
“I think that’s why the players have been so emotional this year. We’ve had tears on stage from Cammy Menzies, Luke Littler, Robert Owen and Wrighty. I’m not surprised because it’s like a pressure cooker up on stage.
“I think you can feel the tension up there big time. The fans just make it electric.
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“Plus I think Paddy Power’s BIGGER 180 initiative has put more pressure on and involved the fans even more.
“The fact that a player can win a fan £60,000 with a nine-darter just means every time we get a couple of 180s, the fans go wild.
“I also think that has really got to the players. When you put it all together, it’s been intoxicating this year.”
James, who is a Radio X presenter, believes it can only get even more exciting with the big matches to come.
She added: “We’ve still got the biggest clashes in the tournament. The final is going to be epic.”