A look into the unglamorous side of darts, where pros fuel the dream of the World Championship

BELIEVE IT or not, there's more to darts than drunken revelers dressed as traffic cones or cartoon characters.

Turn on the TV these days and there will probably be some form of oche action happening somewhere on the planet.

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Top class darts thrown into packed arenas where thousands of darts fans drink, burp, fart, sing or whistle.

But the sport DOES exist outside the glare of cameras and sold-out arenas – and is often found in nondescript recreation centers.

Between February and October, the 128 Tour Card holders will compete in 30 Players Championship events.

Two players, one board and one caller. And that's it.

No fans are allowed to attend; even one man and his dog are not allowed to look inside.

These floor tournaments are as far removed as possible from the main stage drama we regularly see on our screens.

It's so understated that even Peter Wright, the sport's most colorful man, doesn't bother getting his hair dyed beforehand.

It's a chance for the humble journeymen to take on the best tungsten throwers in the world – the likes of Michael van Gerwen or Luke Humphries.

This week's events take place at the Robin Park tennis center in Wigan.

A venue criticized on Monday by former world champion Gerwyn Price for being too cold and having “absolutely pathetic conditions”.

Elsewhere, events are held throughout the year in Leicester, Milton Keynes and Hildesheim, a city south of Hanover in Germany.

The prize money isn't much compared to the riches Ally Pally has to offer, but it's vital for scoring points on the PDC Order of Merit.

The points on offer give lesser-known stars the chance to qualify for TV majors – most importantly the World Cup every Christmas.

It may seem glamorous when it comes to the big crowds in the Premier League, but to get that far you have to work hard on the floor.