Fishing isn’t for everyone. But seemingly PDC World Champion Luke Littler either really enjoys it or forgot to read the small print on his Target Darts contract, which microscopically read, must sit on a cold river bank for hours once a year.

Joking aside – which is unlikely to continue, given this article’s theme – Littler will be one of the stars competing at the upcoming Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship. Otherwise known as Britain’s annual gathering of highly competitive grown adults attempting to outsmart creatures that regularly mistake cigarette ends for food.

The event takes place at Tunnel Barn Farm in Warwick on 28th July, but is not open to spectators, who tend to divide their spare time between watching people fish and watching paint dry. Catch (no pun intended) the highlights package, which will invariably show a few clips of various well-known sporting personalities reeling in a pike before proudly showing it off to the camera. Gripping stuff.

In what is truly a fantastic charity event hosted by Target Darts, Luke Littler is joined by former WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Tony Bellew. After listening to him talk about his beloved Everton FC or how he defeated David Haye twice, you’ll be almost relieved to converse about the various types of maggots available.

There’s also legendary goalkeeper David Seaman – a name you’d think is ironically perfect for any aquatic-related sport. Just don’t mention Real Zaragoza player Nayim lobbing the Arsenal keeper in a 1995 European final, or you might end up with a fishing rod stuck where the sun doesn’t shine.

And from the world of the oval ball comes England Rugby Union star Ellis Genge. A bloke who is built like a reinforced garage door and uses barbed wire to floss his teeth. He doesn’t need a rod, he just looks at the pond and threatens the fish to jump into his bucket.

Altogether, thirty-two sporting personalities and guests will be split into eight teams of four, ensuring a delightful mixture of camaraderie, mild cheating allegations and largely middle-aged men who told their partners they were away working.

Now, I must get serious for a moment. This magnificent event raises a minimum of £40,000 for charity, supporting causes close to many people’s hearts. The money raised benefits the Willow Foundation, founded by Arsenal and England legend Bob Wilson, along with St Francis Hospice, Haven House, the Ricky Hatton Foundation and Alex – The Leukodystrophy Charity.

Event organiser Jess Harding said:

“The Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship 2026 is a much-loved event that is getting bigger and bigger every year. We’re privileged that titans from the sporting world want to get stuck in, and although it’s a fun charity event, the competitors are used to operating at an elite level – everyone wants to win!”

And there’s the problem. Elite sportspeople do not understand the phrase friendly competition. They hear those words in exactly the same way a crocodile interprets vegetarian buffet. These people have spent their lives trying to crush dreams for a living. They aren’t about to suddenly become Mother Teresa because somebody hands them a fishing rod.

Then the man himself, Mr Matchroom and the reason grown men dress up as large bananas and various coloured crayons every Thursday during the spring. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Barry Hearn, who had this to say:

“Everyone who knows me, knows I love to win. The competition at the Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship 2026 gets fiercer every single year.”

Nobody needed telling that. There are two ways to lose your PDC Tour Card. Firstly, don’t gain enough ranking points. Secondly, reel in a fish Uncle Barry had his eye on. Probably best to just find another one biting, hey Luke?

So, not long to go now. Who will win? Answer: those amazing and deserving charities.

Target Darts, we applaud you.