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 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 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 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 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, 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).
2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Draw Bracket
(1) Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas
Mario Vandenbogaerde v David Davies
(32) Joe Cullen v Bradley Brooks
Mensur Suljovic v David Cameron
(16) Damon Heta v Steve Lennon
Raymond van Barneveld v Stefan Bellmont
(17) Rob Cross v Cor Dekker
Ian White v Mervyn King
(8) Chris Dobey v Xiaochen Zong
Andrew Gilding v Cam Crabtree
(25) Luke Woodhouse v Boris Krcmar
Martin Lukeman v Max Hopp
(9) Gerwyn Price v Adam Gawlas
Lukas Wenig v Wesley Plaisier
(24) Ryan Joyce v Owen Bates
Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo
(4) Stephen Bunting v Sebastian Bialecki
Richard Veenstra v Nitin Kumar
(29) Dirk van Duijvenbode v Andy Baetens
James Hurrell v Stowe Buntz
(13) Martin Schindler v Stephen Burton
Keane Barry v Tim Pusey
(20) Ryan Searle v Chris Landman
Brendan Dolan v Tavis Dudeney
(5) Jonny Clayton v Adam Lipscombe
Dom Taylor v Oskar Lukasiak
(28) Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton
Niels Zonneveld v Haupai Puha
(12) Ross Smith v Andreas Harrysson
Thibault Tricole v Motomu Sakai
(21) Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock
Ricardo Pietreczko v Jose de Sousa
(2) Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts
Jeffrey de Graaf v Paul Lim
(31) Wessel Nijman v Karel Sedlacek
Gabriel Clemens v Alex Spellman
(15) Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Mickey Mansell v Leonard Gates
(18) Mike De Decker v David Munyua
Kevin Doets v Matthew Dennant
(7) James Wade v Ryusei Azemoto
Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung
(26) Cameron Menzies v Charlie Manby
Matt Campbell v Adam Sevada
(10) Gian van Veen v Cristo Reyes
Alan Soutar v Teemu Harju
(23) Dimitri Van den Bergh v Darren Beveridge
Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik
(3) Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
William O'Connor v Krzysztof Kciuk
(30) Peter Wright v Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk
(14) Gary Anderson v Adam Hunt
Connor Scutt v Simon Whitlock
(19) Jermaine Wattimena v Dominik Gruellich
Scott Williams v Paolo Nebrida
(6) Danny Noppert v Jurjen van der Velde
Nick Kenny v Justin Hood
(27) Ritchie Edhouse v Jonny Tata
Ryan Meikle v Jesus Salate
(11) Josh Rock v Gemma Hayter
Niko Springer v Joe Comito
(22) Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves
Callan Rydz v Patrik Kovacs
Thursday December 11 (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk
Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton
Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas
Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik
Friday December 12
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Niels Zonneveld v Haupai Puha
Ian White v Mervyn King
Ryan Searle v Chris Landman
Rob Cross v Cor Dekker
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Ross Smith v Andreas Harrysson
Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung
Gian van Veen v Cristo Reyes
Damon Heta v Steve Lennon
Saturday December 13
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Mario Vandenbogaerde v David Davies
Andrew Gilding v Cam Crabtree
Luke Woodhouse v Boris Krcmar
Gary Anderson v Adam Hunt
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Jeffrey de Graaf v Paul Lim
Wessel Nijman v Karel Sedlacek
Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts
Gabriel Clemens v Alex Spellman
Sunday December 14
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Ritchie Edhouse v Jonny Tata
Dom Taylor v Oskar Lukasiak
Richard Veenstra v Nitin Kumar
Joe Cullen v Bradley Brooks
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Lukas Wenig v Wesley Plaisier
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Darren Beveridge
Stephen Bunting v Sebastian Bialecki
James Hurrell v Stowe Buntz
Monday December 15
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Brendan Dolan v Tavis Dudeney
Cameron Menzies v Charlie Manby
Mensur Suljovic v David Cameron
Peter Wright v Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Martin Lukeman v Max Hopp
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Andy Baetens
Jonny Clayton v Adam Lipscombe
Connor Scutt v Simon Whitlock
Tuesday December 16
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Alan Soutar v Teemu Harju
Nick Kenny v Justin Hood
Scott Williams v Paolo Nebrida
Chris Dobey v Xiaochen Zong
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Ricardo Pietreczko v Jose de Sousa
Danny Noppert v Jurjen van der Velde
Gerwyn Price v Adam Gawlas
Niko Springer v Joe Comito
Wednesday December 17 (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Matt Campbell v Adam Sevada
Raymond van Barneveld v Stefan Bellmont
James Wade v Ryusei Azemoto
Martin Schindler v Stephen Burton
Thursday December 18
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Callan Rydz v Patrik Kovacs
Thibault Tricole v Motomu Sakai
Ryan Joyce v Owen Bates
Mike De Decker v David Munyua
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Jermaine Wattimena v Dominik Gruellich
Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock
Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo
Friday December 19
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Kevin Doets v Matthew Dennant
Ryan Meikle v Jesus Salate
Mickey Mansell v Leonard Gates
Josh Rock v Gemma Hayter
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
William O’Connor v Krzysztof Kciuk
Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Keane Barry v Tim Pusey
Round Two Session Schedule - Order of Games TBC
Saturday December 20
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT) & Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Dobey/Zong v Gilding/Crabtree
Bunting/Bialecki v Veenstra/Kumar
Van Duijvenbode/Baetens v Hurrell/Buntz
Searle/Landman v Dolan/Dudeney
Clayton/Lipscombe v Taylor/Lukasiak
M Smith/Ashton v Zonneveld/Puha
R Smith/Harrysson v Tricole/Sakai
Chisnall/Sherrock v Pietreczko/De Sousa
Sunday December 21
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT) & Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Littler/Labanauskas v Vandenbogaerde/Davies
Cullen/Brooks v Suljovic/Cameron
Heta/Lennon v Van Barneveld/Bellmont
Cross/Dekker v White/King
Woodhouse/Krcmar v Lukeman/Hopp
Price/Gawlas v Wenig/Plaisier
Joyce/Bates v Ratajski/Toylo
Schindler/Burton v Barry/Pusey
Monday December 22
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT) & Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Humphries/Evetts v De Graaf/Lim
Nijman/Sedlacek v Clemens/Spellman
Aspinall/Ilagan v Mansell/Gates
De Decker/Munyua v Doets/Dennant
Wade/Azemoto v Evans/Leung
Menzies/Manby v Campbell/Sevada
Van Veen/Reyes v Soutar/Harju
Van den Bergh/Beveridge v Razma/Van den Herik
Tuesday December 23
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT) & Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Van Gerwen/Tatsunami v O'Connor/Kciuk
Wright/Van Leuven v Huybrechts/Merk
Anderson/Hunt v Scutt/Whitlock
Wattimena/Gruellich v Williams/Nebrida
Noppert/Van der Velde v Kenny/Hood
Edhouse/Tata v Meikle/Salate
Rock/Hayter v Springer/Comito
Gurney/Greaves v Rydz/Kovacs
Saturday December 27
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Three x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Three x3
Sunday December 28
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Three x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Three x3
Monday December 29
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Three x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Three x1, Round Four x2
Tuesday December 30
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Four x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Four x3
Thursday January 1
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2
Friday January 2 (1930 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Saturday January 3 (2000 GMT)
Final
Format
Round One - Best of Five Sets
Round Two - Best of Five Sets
Round Three - Best of Seven Sets
Round Four - Best of Seven Sets
Quarter-Finals - Best of Nine Sets
Semi-Finals - Best of 11 Sets
Final - Best of 13 Sets
All sets are the best of five legs
There will be a tie-break rule employed in all matches; where a deciding set must be won by two clear legs. If the score in the final set reaches 5-5 then a sudden-death leg will be played. There would be no throw for the bull in any sudden-death legs.
Prize Fund
Winner - £1,000,000
Runner-Up - £400,000
Semi-Finalists - £200,000
Quarter-Finalists - £100,000
Round Four Losers - £60,000
Round Three Losers - £35,000
Round Two Losers - £25,000
Round One Losers - £15,000
Total - £5,000,000