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What for most is a game you play in the pub with friends -- throwing small, sharp arrows into a numbered board -- has become something of a cultural phenomenon in recent times.

Darts is attracting large crowds to tournaments, with large amounts of prize money, sponsorship, and beer on offer. And its cable tv audience is also on the rise.

Add to that a new sensation: 16-year-old Luke Littler who's managed to reach the final of the championship on his debut.

Dr Patrick Chaplin, who researches the social and cultural history of darts, explained to Newshour's James Menendez more about Littler's rise and the history of darts and how it went from being a working-class pub game to a cable TV phenomenon.

(Photo shows Luke Littler celebrating victory in the semi-final of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship. Credit: Zac Goodwin/PA)