Fans are only just realising why darts games start at 501 and it makes perfect sense

DARTS fans have just found out why games start at 501 instead of a round number like 500.

And it actually makes perfect sense as the sport continues to grow globally.

Darts fans are just finding out why games start at 501Getty

According to The Mirror, the scoreline is down to the double-out rule, which dictates that players must finish the match by hitting a double to reduce their score to zero.

Starting at an odd number ensures darts players must move around the board in order to finish on a double.

That raises the competition levels, especially among quality players.

But if the game were to begin at 500, then the players would simply aim for the 20 on the board at every turn.

That would help them win without ever having to hit an odd number.

This extremely small rule is the reason behind all the excitement as it reduces the chances of the game being over quickly.

That is something for fans to take on board as the Premier League action continues.

Luke Humphries tops the Prem table with 22 points and Luke Littler behind him with 18.

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Michael van Gerwen is only one point behind Littler with Nathan Aspinall fourth with 16 points.

Michael Smith completes the top five with 13 points on the board.

Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright are behind Smith in the latter places.