World Darts Championship: Five of the best comebacks

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Rob Cross produced a miraculous comeback to keep his Paddy Power World Darts Championship hopes alive on New Year's Day, battling back from the brink to stun Chris Dobey.

Darts star Humphries reveals backing for the Big 180 campaign

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Luke Humphries is aiming to hit the bullseye for Prostate Cancer UK during his bid to win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Williams stuns Van Gerwen to reach World Championship semi-finals

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Scott Williams stunned Michael van Gewen on a memorable day at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, as Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Rob Cross also progressed to the semi-finals on Monday.

Prostate Cancer UK fundraising star Webber enjoys Ally Pally experience

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Prostate Cancer UK fundraising champion Kevin Webber enjoyed a memorable visit to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship - getting to take to the famous Ally Pally stage!

Dobey eyeing dream start to 2024 at Alexandra Palace

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Chris Dobey is hoping to kick off 2024 in style at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, as he takes on Rob Cross for a place in the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace.

Superstar Littler topples Barney to create more Ally Pally history

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Teenage sensation Luke Littler produced an inspired display to topple his darting idol Raymond van Barneveld on an extraordinary night at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship on Saturday.

Littler & Van Barneveld to collide in a clash of the generations

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

The Alexandra Palace stage will play host to a clash of generations tonight, as Luke Littler locks horns with Raymond van Barneveld in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Cross feeling 'as comfortable as ever' ahead of Clayton clash

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Rob Cross will take on Jonny Clayton at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship this afternoon, as he eyes a place in the quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the title in 2018.

Dazzling Dobey ends Smith's reign as World Darts Champion

Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Chris Dobey sent out a statement with a stunning straight-sets victory over defending champion Michael Smith at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Thursday December 11
Round One x4

Arno Merk 3-1 Kim Huybrechts (3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 3-0)
Michael Smith 3-0 Lisa Ashton (3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
Luke Littler 3-0 Darius Labanauskas (3-2, 3-2, 3-1)
Madars Razma 3-1 Jamai van den Herik (3-2, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2)

Friday December 12
Afternoon Session
Round One

Niels Zonneveld 3-0 Haupai Puha (3-2, 3-2, 3-0)
Ian White 3-2 Mervyn King (3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0)
Ryan Searle 3-0 Chris Landman (3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
Rob Cross 3-0 Cor Dekker (3-0, 3-2, 3-0)

Evening Session
Round One

Andreas Harrysson 3-2 Ross Smith (2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1)
Ricky Evans 3-0 Man Lok Leung (3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Gian van Veen 3-1 Cristo Reyes (3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2)
Damon Heta 3-1 Steve Lennon (3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0)

Saturday December 13
Afternoon Session
Round One x4

David Davies 3-0 Mario Vandenbogaerde (3-2, 3-0, 3-2)
Andrew Gilding 3-1 Cam Crabtree (3-0, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0)
Luke Woodhouse 3-1 Boris Krcmar (2-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
Gary Anderson 3-2 Adam Hunt (3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1)

Evening Session
Round One x4

Paul Lim 3-1 Jeffrey de Graaf (3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-2)
Wessel Nijman 3-0 Karel Sedlacek (3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Humphries 3-1 Ted Evetts (3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1)
Gabriel Clemens 3-0 Alex Spellman (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)

Sunday December 14
Afternoon Session
Round One x4

Jonny Tata 3-0 Ritchie Edhouse (3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
Dom Taylor 3-0 Oskar Lukasiak (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Nitin Kumar 3-2 Richard Veenstra (3-1, 0-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1)
Joe Cullen 3-0 Bradley Brooks (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)

Evening Session
Round One x4

Wesley Plaisier 3-1 Lukas Wenig (3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1)
Darren Beveridge 3-0 Dimitri Van den Bergh (3-0, 3-1, 3-0)
Stephen Bunting 3-2 Sebastian Bialecki (3-1, 3-1, 0-3, 1-3, 4-2)
James Hurrell 3-1 Stowe Buntz (3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2)

Monday December 15
Afternoon Session
Round One x4

Brendan Dolan 3-1 Tavis Dudeney (3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
Charlie Manby 3-2 Cameron Menzies (2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1)
Mensur Suljovic 3-1 David Cameron (3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Peter Wright 3-0 Noa-Lynn van Leuven (3-1, 3-2, 3-0)

Evening Session
Round One x4

Max Hopp 3-1 Martin Lukeman (3-0, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-2 Andy Baetens (3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Jonny Clayton 3-1 Adam Lipscombe (3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Connor Scutt 3-2 Simon Whitlock (3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1)

Tuesday December 16
Afternoon Session
Round One x4

Alan Soutar 3-2 Teemu Harju (3-0, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 6-5)
Justin Hood 3-0 Nick Kenny (3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
Scott Williams 3-0 Paolo Nebrida (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)
Chris Dobey 3-1 Xiaochen Zong (3-0, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)

Evening Session
Round One x4

Ricardo Pietreczko 3-1 Jose de Sousa (3-2, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
Danny Noppert 3-1 Jurjen van der Velde (3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-0)
Gerwyn Price 3-0 Adam Gawlas (3-0, 3-2, 3-0)
Joe Comito 3-1 Niko Springer (3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2)

Wednesday December 17
Round One x4

Adam Sevada 3-1 Matt Campbell (3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0)
Stefan Bellmont 3-0 Raymond van Barneveld (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)
James Wade 3-0 Ryusei Azemoto (3-1, 3-0, 3-0)
Martin Schindler 3-1 Stephen Burton (3-1, 0-3, 3-0, 3-0)

Thursday December 18
Afternoon Session
Round One x4

Callan Rydz 3-0 Patrik Kovacs (3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
Motomu Sakai 3-0 Thibault Tricole (3-2, 3-2, 3-0)
Ryan Joyce 3-0 Owen Bates (3-0, 3-1, 3-0)
David Munyua 3-2 Mike De Decker (1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)

Evening Session
Round One x4

Jermaine Wattimena 3-2 Dominik Gruellich (3-1, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0)
Dave Chisnall 3-0 Fallon Sherrock (3-1, 3-0, 3-2)
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Mitsuhiko Tatsunami (1-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
Krzysztof Ratajski 3-0 Alexis Toylo (3-0, 3-1, 3-1)

Friday December 19
Afternoon Session
Round One x4

Kevin Doets 3-1 Matthew Dennant (2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Ryan Meikle 3-0 Jesus Salate (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Leonard Gates 3-2 Mickey Mansell (3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0)
Josh Rock 3-1 Gemma Hayter (3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4

William O’Connor 3-0 Krzysztof Kciuk (3-2, 3-0, 3-0)
Daryl Gurney 3-2 Beau Greaves (3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1)
Nathan Aspinall 3-1 Lourence Ilagan (2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Keane Barry 3-0 Tim Pusey (3-2, 3-0, 3-1)

Saturday December 20
Afternoon Session
Round Two x4

Ryan Searle 3-0 Brendan Dolan (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)
Andreas Harrysson 3-0 Motomu Sakai (3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
James Hurrell 3-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode (1-3, 3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1)
Ricardo Pietreczko 3-2 Dave Chisnall (3-1, 3-1, 1-3, 0-3, 4-2)

Evening Session
Round Two x4

Niels Zonneveld 3-1 Michael Smith (3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-0)
Andrew Gilding 3-1 Chris Dobey (2-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2)
Stephen Bunting 3-0 Nitin Kumar (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)
Jonny Clayton Bye (Dom Taylor suspended)

NB: Jonny Clayton receives a Bye through to round three following the suspension of Dom Taylor.

Sunday December 21
Afternoon Session
Round Two x4

Krzysztof Ratajski 3-1 Ryan Joyce (3-1, 3-1, 0-3, 3-0)
Mensur Suljovic 3-1 Joe Cullen (0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Luke Woodhouse 3-0 Max Hopp (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Rob Cross 3-1 Ian White (3-1, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2)

Evening Session
Round Two x4

Martin Schindler 3-0 Keane Barry (3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
Wesley Plaisier 3-0 Gerwyn Price (3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
Luke Littler 3-0 David Davies (3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
Damon Heta 3-2 Stefan Bellmont (1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)

Monday December 22
Afternoon Session
Madars Razma 3-1 Darren Beveridge (3-0, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2)
Gabriel Clemens 3-0 Wessel Nijman (3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
Kevin Doets 3-0 David Munyua (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)
Ricky Evans 3-2 James Wade (3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 6-4) 

Evening Session
Gian Van Veen 3-1 Alan Soutar (1-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0)
Nathan Aspinall 3-0 Leonard Gates (3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Humphries 3-0 Paul Lim (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Charlie Manby 3-0 Adam Sevada (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)

Tuesday December 23
Afternoon Session

Ryan Meikle 3-2 Jonny Tata (1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
Callan Rydz 3-2 Daryl Gurney (3-1, 0-3, 1-3, 3-0, 5-3)
Jermaine Wattimena 3-2 Scott Williams (3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 0-3, 3-0)
Arno Merk 3-0 Peter Wright (3-0, 3-1, 3-1)

Evening Session
Justin Hood 3-2 Danny Noppert (3-2, 3-1, 2-3, 1-3, 6-5)
Gary Anderson 3-1 Connor Scutt (1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 William O'Connor (3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 3-0)
Josh Rock 3-0 Joe Comito (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)

Saturday December 27
Afternoon Session

Round Three 
Krzysztof Ratajski 4-3 Wesley Plaisier (0-3, 3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)
Luke Woodhouse 4-1 Andrew Gilding (3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2)  
Jonny Clayton 4-3 Niels Zonneveld (3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 0-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0)

Evening Session
Round Three
Andreas Harrysson 4-2 Ricardo Pietreczko (3-2, 2-3, 3-0, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1)
James Hurrell 4-3 Stephen Bunting (3-1, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1)
Luke Littler 4-0 Mensur Suljovic (3-0, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)

Sunday December 28
Afternoon Session

Round Three
Ryan Searle 4-0 Martin Schindler (3-1, 3-1, 3-0, 3-0)              
Rob Cross 4-0 Damon Heta (3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)                             
Gary Anderson 4-3 Jermaine Wattimena (3-1, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 5-3)

Evening Session
Round Three

Gian van Veen 4-1 Madars Razma (3-1, 3-1, 3-0, 0-3, 3-0)                                   
Luke Humphries 4-2 Gabriel Clemens (3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 0-3, 2-3, 3-2)                      
Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Arno Merk (3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)

Monday December 29
Afternoon Session
Round Three

Justin Hood 4-1 Ryan Meikle (3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2)             
Charlie Manby 4-2 Ricky Evans (1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0)                                   
Kevin Doets 4-3 Nathan Aspinall (1-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0)

Evening Session
Round Three x1

Josh Rock 4-1 Callan Rydz (1-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
Round Four x2
Ryan Searle 4-0 James Hurrell (3-2, 3-0, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Littler 4-2 Rob Cross (3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1, 2-3, 3-2)

Tuesday December 30
Afternoon Session

Round Four x3
Krzysztof Ratajski 4-2 Luke Woodhouse (3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Jonny Clayton 4-2 Andreas Harrysson (3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
Justin Hood 4-0 Josh Rock (3-2, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)

Evening Session
Round Four x3
Gian van Veen 4-1 Charlie Manby (3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-0, 3-2)
Gary Anderson 4-1 Michael van Gerwen (3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Humphries 4-1 Kevin Doets (1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-0, 3-0)

Thursday January 1
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session

Ryan Searle 5-2 Jonny Clayton (3-1, 3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0)
Gary Anderson 5-2 Justin Hood (3-0, 1-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0)

Evening Session
Luke Littler 5-0 Krzysztof Ratajski (3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
Gian van Veen 5-1 Luke Humphries (3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1)

Friday January 2
Semi-Finals

Luke Littler 6-1 Ryan Searle (2-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2)
Gian van Veen 6-3 Gary Anderson (1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2)

Saturday January 3
Final

Luke Littler 7-1 Gian van Veen (2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 3-1, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1)

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

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

Drawboard