2025/26 PDC WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship gets underway on Thursday evening, as Luke Littler begins his defence of the title on a star-studded opening night at London's Alexandra Palace.
The 33rd staging of the World Championship - which will take place from December 11 to January 3 - will feature an expanded 128-player field, as darts' biggest names from across the globe compete to lift the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy.
This year's festive feast of darts also includes a staggering prize fund of £5m - including an incredible £1m prize to the winner - as the sport prepares to enter an exciting new era. In a change from recent years, all players will enter the tournament in round one, as Littler opens his bid for back-to-back titles against former quarter-finalist Darius Labanauskas.
Littler etched his name into darts history by becoming the youngest ever PDC World Champion 12 months ago, and the teenage sensation is ready to take centre stage against Lithuanian trailblazer Labanauskas.
"My form says that I could beat anyone right now," admitted Littler, who is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson by retaining the sport's biggest crown.
"Ten years ago, Gary Anderson won back-to-back titles, and ten years later, I'm standing here as the current champion and I'm looking to go back-to-back myself.
"I've got that number one spot now and hopefully I can have another tournament to remember this time around."
Littler will be joined in opening night action by 2022/23 World Champion Michael Smith, who has been pitted against Women's World Matchplay champion Lisa Ashton in a fascinating tie.
Smith has been plagued by a series of injury problems over the last 12 months, but he showed signs of a resurgence with a run to the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals in November.
"It's always a buzz going back to Ally Pally," admitted Smith, one of nine PDC World Champions in this year's showpiece. "I feel good. I feel ready, and if I produce something, I know I can carry it on because I've done it that many times and I've lifted that trophy before. "I won't quit until I get what I want, and I think that's been proven in these last 12 months."
The first double-session at this year's World Darts Championship will take place on Friday December 12, as 2017/18 World Champion Rob Cross goes up against Norwegian newcomer Cor Dekker in the afternoon's finale. The evening's proceedings will be headlined by European Champion Gian van Veen's clash against the returning Cristo Reyes, with former European Champion Ross Smith and Australian number one Damon Heta also set to star.
2023/24 World Champion Luke Humphries will enter the fray on Saturday December 13, and the world number two kicks off his campaign against Ted Evetts, in a battle of the former World Youth Champions.
Humphries' reign as world number one was halted by Littler in November, although he could immediately reclaim that position by winning a second World Championship crown in January. The 30-year-old has celebrated World Masters and Premier League success this year, before featuring in a hat-trick of televised ranking finals throughout the autumn.
"I feel like I'm playing better darts than I ever have," insisted Humphries, who is setting his sights on further history in the capital. "If you perform here, you will always be remembered. For me as a player, it's about legacy. "If you can win multiple World Championship titles, that legacy becomes even greater and you go down in history forever. That is what makes this tournament so special."
Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson joins Humphries in opening round action on Saturday, with the Scottish icon up against his former protégé Adam Hunt for a place in round two. Having scooped a Players Championship and European Tour title during another impressive ProTour campaign, Anderson is hoping to roll back the years at Alexandra Palace over the coming weeks.
"Ally Pally is something special," remarked Anderson, who is embarking on a 17th consecutive World Championship appearance this year. "If you can't get yourself up for it then you shouldn't be playing the game. This is the icing on the cake, it's the biggest tournament on the planet for us. "When you drive up that hill, that's what gets your juices flowing, that's what it's all about."
World number four Stephen Bunting will be the star attraction on Day Four, with the two-time semi-finalist up against Poland's number two Sebastian Bialecki in an intriguing tussle.
Two-time World Champion Peter Wright, fifth seed Jonny Clayton and 2009/10 finalist Simon Whitlock complete a bumper Day Five line-up, before Gerwyn Price makes his Ally Pally return on Day Six. 2020/21 World Champion Price faces Czech qualifier Adam Gawlas in his opener, with world number six Danny Noppert also in action on Tuesday December 16, alongside former semi-finalists Chris Dobey and Scott Williams.
Day Seven is headlined by four-time semi-finalist James Wade and German number one Martin Schindler, while five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld makes his record-equalling 33rd World Championship appearance against Switzerland's Stefan Bellmont.
The penultimate day of round one action takes place on Thursday December 18, as Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen opens his challenge for a fourth World Championship title against Japanese debutant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami. Littler and Humphries are touted as the leading contenders for the £1m top prize, although Van Gerwen is determined to halt their darting monopoly and clinch his first World Championship title for seven years.
"Luke and Luke are playing better than me at the moment, so I have to step up. It's as simple as that," conceded Van Gerwen, the runner-up to Littler 12 months ago. "The World Championship is a different animal - the crowds, the stage, the atmosphere, the media attention. "It is a different type of pressure, and it's always nice to chase someone. It's easier than being hunted."
Thursday's play will also feature a showdown between former semi-finalist Dave Chisnall and the history-making Fallon Sherrock, while Belgian number one Mike De Decker meets Kenyan debutant David Munyua in the afternoon session.
Round one then draws to a close on Friday December 19, as Women's Series champion Beau Greaves makes her highly-anticipated World Championship return against three-time TV title winner Daryl Gurney. Gurney's World Cup partner Josh Rock will open his title challenge against another Women's Series qualifier Gemma Hayter, while two-time semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall goes head-to-head with PDC Asian Championship winner Lourence Ilagan.
Round two will take place from December 20-23, before rounds three and four are held from December 27-30, following the three-day Christmas break. The new darting year then kicks off with a blockbuster day of quarter-final action on Thursday January 1, followed by the semi-finals and final on January 2 and January 3 respectively.
Additionally, Paddy Power are renewing their pledge to donate 1,000 pound to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 hit at this year's tournament, as part of Paddy Power's The Even Bigger 180 campaign for 2025/26. As well as donating 1,000 pound for every 180 at the tournament, also returning is the nine-dart bonus where for every perfect leg at the tournament a cash prize of 180,000 pound will be split evenly between the player who achieved it, Prostate Cancer UK and one lucky fan in the crowd at Ally Pally.
Paddy Power are also offering one lucky darts fan a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win a 180,000 pound cash prize live on stage ahead of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship final, as part of their new 'Darts of Destiny' initiative. The Irish bookmaker has announced a first-of-its-kind charity challenge with Prostate Cancer UK - where one member of the public will get the chance to throw nine darts on Ally Pally stage to win 180,000 pound, and the participant will be selected at random from anyone who enters via the Darts of Destiny JustGiving page.
The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers). Details you can find here: Darts of Destiny
The 33rd staging of the World Championship - which will take place from December 11 to January 3 - will feature an expanded 128-player field, as darts' biggest names from across the globe compete to lift the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy.
This year's festive feast of darts also includes a staggering prize fund of £5m - including an incredible £1m prize to the winner - as the sport prepares to enter an exciting new era. In a change from recent years, all players will enter the tournament in round one, as Littler opens his bid for back-to-back titles against former quarter-finalist Darius Labanauskas.
Littler etched his name into darts history by becoming the youngest ever PDC World Champion 12 months ago, and the teenage sensation is ready to take centre stage against Lithuanian trailblazer Labanauskas.
"My form says that I could beat anyone right now," admitted Littler, who is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson by retaining the sport's biggest crown.
"Ten years ago, Gary Anderson won back-to-back titles, and ten years later, I'm standing here as the current champion and I'm looking to go back-to-back myself.
"I've got that number one spot now and hopefully I can have another tournament to remember this time around."
Littler will be joined in opening night action by 2022/23 World Champion Michael Smith, who has been pitted against Women's World Matchplay champion Lisa Ashton in a fascinating tie.
Smith has been plagued by a series of injury problems over the last 12 months, but he showed signs of a resurgence with a run to the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals in November.
"It's always a buzz going back to Ally Pally," admitted Smith, one of nine PDC World Champions in this year's showpiece. "I feel good. I feel ready, and if I produce something, I know I can carry it on because I've done it that many times and I've lifted that trophy before. "I won't quit until I get what I want, and I think that's been proven in these last 12 months."
The first double-session at this year's World Darts Championship will take place on Friday December 12, as 2017/18 World Champion Rob Cross goes up against Norwegian newcomer Cor Dekker in the afternoon's finale. The evening's proceedings will be headlined by European Champion Gian van Veen's clash against the returning Cristo Reyes, with former European Champion Ross Smith and Australian number one Damon Heta also set to star.
2023/24 World Champion Luke Humphries will enter the fray on Saturday December 13, and the world number two kicks off his campaign against Ted Evetts, in a battle of the former World Youth Champions.
Humphries' reign as world number one was halted by Littler in November, although he could immediately reclaim that position by winning a second World Championship crown in January. The 30-year-old has celebrated World Masters and Premier League success this year, before featuring in a hat-trick of televised ranking finals throughout the autumn.
"I feel like I'm playing better darts than I ever have," insisted Humphries, who is setting his sights on further history in the capital. "If you perform here, you will always be remembered. For me as a player, it's about legacy. "If you can win multiple World Championship titles, that legacy becomes even greater and you go down in history forever. That is what makes this tournament so special."
Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson joins Humphries in opening round action on Saturday, with the Scottish icon up against his former protégé Adam Hunt for a place in round two. Having scooped a Players Championship and European Tour title during another impressive ProTour campaign, Anderson is hoping to roll back the years at Alexandra Palace over the coming weeks.
"Ally Pally is something special," remarked Anderson, who is embarking on a 17th consecutive World Championship appearance this year. "If you can't get yourself up for it then you shouldn't be playing the game. This is the icing on the cake, it's the biggest tournament on the planet for us. "When you drive up that hill, that's what gets your juices flowing, that's what it's all about."
World number four Stephen Bunting will be the star attraction on Day Four, with the two-time semi-finalist up against Poland's number two Sebastian Bialecki in an intriguing tussle.
Two-time World Champion Peter Wright, fifth seed Jonny Clayton and 2009/10 finalist Simon Whitlock complete a bumper Day Five line-up, before Gerwyn Price makes his Ally Pally return on Day Six. 2020/21 World Champion Price faces Czech qualifier Adam Gawlas in his opener, with world number six Danny Noppert also in action on Tuesday December 16, alongside former semi-finalists Chris Dobey and Scott Williams.
Day Seven is headlined by four-time semi-finalist James Wade and German number one Martin Schindler, while five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld makes his record-equalling 33rd World Championship appearance against Switzerland's Stefan Bellmont.
The penultimate day of round one action takes place on Thursday December 18, as Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen opens his challenge for a fourth World Championship title against Japanese debutant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami. Littler and Humphries are touted as the leading contenders for the £1m top prize, although Van Gerwen is determined to halt their darting monopoly and clinch his first World Championship title for seven years.
"Luke and Luke are playing better than me at the moment, so I have to step up. It's as simple as that," conceded Van Gerwen, the runner-up to Littler 12 months ago. "The World Championship is a different animal - the crowds, the stage, the atmosphere, the media attention. "It is a different type of pressure, and it's always nice to chase someone. It's easier than being hunted."
Thursday's play will also feature a showdown between former semi-finalist Dave Chisnall and the history-making Fallon Sherrock, while Belgian number one Mike De Decker meets Kenyan debutant David Munyua in the afternoon session.
Round one then draws to a close on Friday December 19, as Women's Series champion Beau Greaves makes her highly-anticipated World Championship return against three-time TV title winner Daryl Gurney. Gurney's World Cup partner Josh Rock will open his title challenge against another Women's Series qualifier Gemma Hayter, while two-time semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall goes head-to-head with PDC Asian Championship winner Lourence Ilagan.
Round two will take place from December 20-23, before rounds three and four are held from December 27-30, following the three-day Christmas break. The new darting year then kicks off with a blockbuster day of quarter-final action on Thursday January 1, followed by the semi-finals and final on January 2 and January 3 respectively.
Additionally, Paddy Power are renewing their pledge to donate 1,000 pound to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 hit at this year's tournament, as part of Paddy Power's The Even Bigger 180 campaign for 2025/26. As well as donating 1,000 pound for every 180 at the tournament, also returning is the nine-dart bonus where for every perfect leg at the tournament a cash prize of 180,000 pound will be split evenly between the player who achieved it, Prostate Cancer UK and one lucky fan in the crowd at Ally Pally.
Paddy Power are also offering one lucky darts fan a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win a 180,000 pound cash prize live on stage ahead of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship final, as part of their new 'Darts of Destiny' initiative. The Irish bookmaker has announced a first-of-its-kind charity challenge with Prostate Cancer UK - where one member of the public will get the chance to throw nine darts on Ally Pally stage to win 180,000 pound, and the participant will be selected at random from anyone who enters via the Darts of Destiny JustGiving page.
The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers). Details you can find here: Darts of Destiny