At Alexandra Palace in London, the world’s best darts players will gather once again on Sunday, December 15, to decide who will be this year’s titleholder, succeeding Luke Humphries. This marks the 32nd edition of the championship. Discover how the tournament is structured, who is eligible to participate, and who stands the best chance of winning the title.
The Championship
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has been organizing the PDC World Darts Championship, also known as the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, since 1994. It is part of the Triple Crown, the three most prestigious tournaments in the PDC. The event consists of seven rounds: the first four rounds, the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. Alexandra Palace in London has been the home of the World Darts Championship since 2008. You may also know it as the venue for the Masters Snooker Tournament.
The tournament boasts the largest prize pool of any darts competition worldwide. In 2020, the total prize fund was around £2.5 million, with approximately £500,000 reserved for the winner. Since the championship traditionally starts in December and ends in January, there are no matches played during Christmas, allowing players to celebrate the holidays.
The most successful PDC player is Phil Taylor. He reached the final every year from 1994 to 2007, winning the tournament 11 times during that period. He claimed additional titles in 2009, 2010, and 2013, making it 14 championship wins in total.
Participants
The 2025 World Darts Championship kicks off with two clear favorites for the world title. After reaching the 2024 World Championship final, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler were the season’s standout players, with Humphries showing more consistency. A rematch of last year’s final is impossible this time, as Humphries and Littler are in the same half of the bracket. They could, however, face each other in the semifinals, with a strong likelihood that one of them will make it to the final.
Luke Humphries wasn’t at his best during the Grand Slam of Darts but still managed to reach five major finals, winning the World Matchplay and the Players Championship Finals. He also secured the World Cup of Darts title alongside Michael Smith. Luke Littler achieved even more success than Humphries but was eliminated in the first round of a ranking major three times. After winning the Premier League Darts and the World Series Finals, he claimed his first ranking major title at the Grand Slam of Darts.
Their biggest competitors come from Scotland and the Netherlands. Gary Anderson made a strong impression at the Grand Slam of Darts, reaching the semifinals and recording the highest number of 110+ averages this season. Michael van Gerwen also remains a formidable contender; in top form, he is a match for both Humphries and Littler.
Outsiders for the world title include Michael Smith and Rob Cross. Cross has shown consistent performance throughout the season, following up his semifinal appearance at last year’s World Championship with five quarterfinal finishes in major tournaments. Smith is always a title contender but will need to improve his form. Having reached three World Championship finals in the past, he has often delivered his best performances at Ally Pally.
Belgian Players
Mike De Decker could also be a title contender. The World Grand Prix champion had a strong 2024 season but faces a tough draw, needing to surpass both Luke Humphries and Luke Littler to reach the final. As a seeded player, he will start directly in the second round, providing a confidence boost for the young Belgian.
Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh are also participating in the tournament. ‘Dancing Dimi’ secured his second major title by winning the UK Open and also reached the semifinals of the Masters and the World Grand Prix, as well as the quarterfinals of the World Matchplay. Although impressive, these performances may fall just short of securing the World Championship title. Huybrechts faces a tough challenge as well, meeting former world champion Gerwyn Price in the second round.
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