REVEALED: Charity could be the £1m winner if darts stars go 180-crazy at the Ally Pally- as sponsors reveal the hallowed treble 20 will stay RED

World Darts Championship tournament sponsors have reneged on their plans to turn the treble 20 bed green and launched an accompanying charity initiation that could see an initiative earn nearly £1million. 

Plans were announced by Paddy Power to shift the traditionally red bed on the championship board to reflect their company colours ahead of the storied competition on Tuesday. 

But in the wake of a wave of controversy over the tweak to the Winmau-made board, the bookmakers have announced that the decision was merely a stunt to raise awareness for a proposed charity intiative. 

Sharing the message on social media, the company publicly nixed the idea and instead stated that they are planning to donate £1,000 for every 180 thrown at the Ally Pally during the festive competition. 

The resulting total - which could be close to seven figures, based on last year's tally of 901 maximums - will be pledged towards the charity Prostate Cancer UK. 

Dubbed 'The Big 180', the initiative will also see the company join forces with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) to urge users across their social media platforms to use the charity's prostate cancer online risk checker. 

One in eight men are diagnosed with the disease, which can be curable if caught earlier, and the initiative will seek to raise awareness about the importance of regular checks as well as to earn funds for lifesaving research. 

Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive Laura Kerby called the initiative 'a gamechanger for men and their loved ones.'

'Prostate cancer is curable if caught early, but early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, so it is vital that men know their risk,' Kerby added. 

The campaign was launched on Thursday by the winner of the 1993/94 PDC World Darts Championship Dennis 'The Menance' Priestly - who was treated for the disease after being diagnosed in November 2007. 

He was accompanied by two-time world champion Peter 'Snakebite' Wright, who is an active supporter of the charity. 

Priestley said: 'Nearly all cancers can be beaten if caught early enough, including prostate cancer. I'm the proof after 16 years that if you get it diagnosed early enough you can beat it.' 

Wright added: 'As a man over 50 it's so important to know your risk of prostate cancer, and I'm sure I speak for all of the players taking part this year by saying we are gunning for as many treble 20s as possible as part of Paddy Power's Big 180 campaign. 

'To know every maximum will trigger a £1,000 donation to Prostate Cancer UK is another fantastic incentive for us all to play well this year. The fact that we can hit Paddy Power where it hurts for their antics earlier this week helps too! 

'I deal in numbers for a living, but hearing one in eight men will get prostate cancer shocked me. I know people affected by this disease; that's why I always wear Prostate Cancer UK's 'Man of Men' badge on the oche. Knowing we will help raise money to contribute to saving lives every time we throw 180 will be amazing.' 

Before the initative was announced, a number of competitors were queried over their response to the green bed. 

Defending champion and top seed Michael Smith said that he could get used to the 'colour clash', adding: 'there's nothing wrong with it.'

Fallon Sherrock at the time said she didn't believe it was a stunt from the bookmakers, and said of her practice board: 'I'm going to have to get a green Sharpie and colour mine in.'