Security intervened after prankster stole World Championship trophy in front of stunned Michael van Gerwen
The 2017 World Darts Championship final descended into chaos when a prankster attempted to steal the trophy. The showpiece event was taking place at Ally Pally with Michael van Gerwen facing Gary Anderson for the Sid Waddell Trophy. Van Gerwen spotted the intruder entering the stage while at the ocheRTL Anderson, a two-time winner, had won the title in 2015 and 2016 and was hoping to claim the crown for the third time on the trot. Having won the trophy once before, Van Gerwen was in the zone and firmly on track to claim the prize for a second time. In a best of seven sets finals, the Dutch star was 6-2 up and leading by two legs to one in ninth set when the interruption occurred. With 115 left to checkout, the prankster entered the stage from Van Gerwen’s right. He then picked up the Sid Waddell Trophy and made his way across the stage as he lifted it in celebration. A worried Van Gerwen took a step back from the oche, clearly keen to keep himself away from a potentially volatile situation. Within moments of the prankster picking up the trophy, secured burst onto the stage from all angles to grab the culprit and remove the trophy from his grasp. Footage then showed the prankster being escorted away. It was later confirmed that the culprit was called Lee Marshall – a member of internet prank group TrollStation who film high-profile pranks and upload them to YouTube. The interruption appeared to rattle Van Gerwen with the Dutch star someone losing the ninth set despite his previous dominance. The prankster grabbed the World Championship trophy and lifted it in front of Van GerwenRTL Van Gerwen looked concerned as the prankster made his way across the stageRTL Van Gerwen stepped away as security could be seen grabbing the culpritRTL However the world number three did go on to win the game 7-3 to claim the World Championship for the second time. Speaking about the prankster after his win, Van Gerwen admitted that his presence had a negative impact on his performance. He said: “That was a bit sad, to be fair. “I think during the game I was in full concentration and it was a bad moment for me. “You’ve always got people like that trying to be funny. “Maybe he wanted to give me the trophy – that’s very nice of him but he’s not allowed to do that!” Another camera caught footage of security dragging him offstageRTL Van Gerwen then went on to win the World Championship for a third time in 2019, this time beating Michael Smith in the final. Since then he’s also finished as runner-up on three occasions, including the 2025 final when he lost to Luke Littler, who claimed his first-ever world title at the age of 18. Van Gerwen will no doubt have more opportunities to add to his three world titles, but no final at Ally Pally will be quite as controversial as the event in 2017.
The 2017 World Darts Championship final descended into chaos when a prankster attempted to steal the trophy.
The showpiece event was taking place at Ally Pally with Michael van Gerwen facing Gary Anderson for the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Anderson, a two-time winner, had won the title in 2015 and 2016 and was hoping to claim the crown for the third time on the trot.
Having won the trophy once before, Van Gerwen was in the zone and firmly on track to claim the prize for a second time.
In a best of seven sets finals, the Dutch star was 6-2 up and leading by two legs to one in ninth set when the interruption occurred.
With 115 left to checkout, the prankster entered the stage from Van Gerwen’s right.
He then picked up the Sid Waddell Trophy and made his way across the stage as he lifted it in celebration.
A worried Van Gerwen took a step back from the oche, clearly keen to keep himself away from a potentially volatile situation.
Within moments of the prankster picking up the trophy, secured burst onto the stage from all angles to grab the culprit and remove the trophy from his grasp.
Footage then showed the prankster being escorted away.
It was later confirmed that the culprit was called Lee Marshall – a member of internet prank group TrollStation who film high-profile pranks and upload them to YouTube.
The interruption appeared to rattle Van Gerwen with the Dutch star someone losing the ninth set despite his previous dominance.
However the world number three did go on to win the game 7-3 to claim the World Championship for the second time.
Speaking about the prankster after his win, Van Gerwen admitted that his presence had a negative impact on his performance.
He said: “That was a bit sad, to be fair.
“I think during the game I was in full concentration and it was a bad moment for me.
“You’ve always got people like that trying to be funny.
“Maybe he wanted to give me the trophy – that’s very nice of him but he’s not allowed to do that!”
Van Gerwen then went on to win the World Championship for a third time in 2019, this time beating Michael Smith in the final.
Since then he’s also finished as runner-up on three occasions, including the 2025 final when he lost to Luke Littler, who claimed his first-ever world title at the age of 18.
Van Gerwen will no doubt have more opportunities to add to his three world titles, but no final at Ally Pally will be quite as controversial as the event in 2017.
