Around 40 police were called to help restore order


The final of the Invitational Darts Tournament in Melbourne was halted for after a riot broke out among members of the crowd.

The match which saw Michael van Gerwen comeback from 5-1 and 8-4 deficits before eventually triumphing over Australian Simon Whitlock 9-8, was stopped for a period of time as officials attempted to restore some order about the Etihad Stadium.

Chairs were thrown and tables were overturned as spectators ran amok at the tournament which is in its third year.

People were understood to be jumping on the tables until they broke in half and some were body slamming other crowd members.

Security guards tried and failed to defuse the situation, before dozens of riot police entered the stadium.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Riot breaks out during darts match with fans throwing chairs

A riot breaks out at the Etihad Stadium during the final of the the annual invitational darts tournament

A general view of the venue with Michael van Gerwen and Simon Whitlock on stage as the crowd sit quietly

Tables and chairs are thrown as match stewards struggle to regain control of the situation

Spectators throw plastic chairs and tables during the final between Whitlock and Van Gerwen

The evening got out of hand when fans started throwing the white plastic chairs

A man dressed as Batman's sidekick Robin is seen fighting with other people in fancy dress

The rioting at the Etihad Stadium leads to some fans being injured, as others try to help them up

A large majority of the crowd are shown to be holding their chairs in the air ahead of throwing them

Security guards stand around a pile of plastic chairs and tables after spectators threw them

The pile of plastic chairs and tables grows as more and more are thrown by spectators

The rioting escalates quickly as the stadium is overturned

Security staff attempt to help another injured spectator

Police and security band together to help try and diffuse the situation

Van Gerwen came from behind to beat home favorite Whitlock

Australian darts player Whitlock throws as Van Gerwen waits for his turn

The players were taken off the stage for a short period while stewards and police tried to get the rioting under control

The pictures certainly don't look good, as one man dressed as Batman's sidekick Robin is seen wrestling with other people in fancy dress and other pictures show men in Hawaiian shirts and also a gang of Oompa Loompas throwing furniture.

It is unclear how long play was suspended for or why supporters were rioting. One spectators, 19-year-old Joel Yeowart, who was in the crowd at the Etihad Stadium told Melbourne based newspaper,The Herald Sun that the chaos had started when 'a small group of people started chucking chairs at each other.

Another spectator, 25-year-old William Cook, said that hundreds of people started throwing chairs and tables during the final game and saw one man urinate on the ground. 'It was a total disaster,' he said, 'It was crazy, it just built up so fast.'

Another eyewitness who traveled to Melbourne from Sydney especially for the tournament told www.theage.com.au he was shocked and disgusted at the scenes.

'It was an absolute mess, drunken idiots that were getting bored and looking for a bit of excitement.

'It was like a proper riot mentality. The security guards couldn't get a handle on it, it was a real uphill battle for them.'

The eyewitness said when the match eventually concluded, Van Gerwen seemed unimpressed with what had gone on in the crowd.

He added: 'The look on his face after he won, it was a look not of victory, but one of pure disgust.