Former PDC Darts Professional, SkySports Darts Commentator and YouTuber with 6 tournament wins under his belt including the Iceland Open in 2023
PDC World Darts Championship Information
Discover the world of competitive darts betting with our in-depth World Championship Darts betting guide. Discover the nuances of betting strategies, learn about the players dominating the scene, and stay up-to-date with the latest odds and statistics. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned bettor, this guide offers valuable insights for the Ultimate Darts event on the calendar.
Hit the Bullseye with Your Bets: World Championship Darts Guide 🎯🔍
PDC World Darts Championship Blog Content
- PDC World Darts Championship Preview
- PDC World Darts Championship Format & Schedule
- PDC World Darts Championship Qualification
- PDC World Darts Championship Previous Winners
- PDC World Darts Championship Records & Statistics
- PDC World Darts Championship Tips
- Darts Betting Guides on OLBG
How can I bet on the PDC World Darts Championship?
If you are looking to have a bet on the darts for the first time or would like to refresh your memory on darts betting and the various markets, then check out our darts betting guide, which contains useful information and guidance before you place your first darts bets.
Our best bookie for darts article has the latest bookmaker offers and promotions, which may enhance your darts betting needs. There are numerous darts markets to bet on, Match Winner, Nine Dart Finish, Set Score, Total 180's, Most 180's and many more to choose.
Who will win the PDC World Darts Championship?
OLBG's darts tipsters provide analysis and selections on the PDC World Darts Championship Winner betting market, plus daily selections throughout the PDC World Championship, so don't forget to check the daily PDC World Darts Championship tips before selecting your darts bets.
Is the PDC World Darts Championship Live on TV?
The PDC World Darts Championship is live every day on Sky Sports in the UK.
What is the PDC World Darts Championship Prize Money?
The total prize fund for the PDC World Darts Championship sponsored by the bookmaker Paddy Power is £5 million.
Darts TV Ratings - The Growth of Darts Viewing Figures
2026 PDC World Darts Championship Tipster Competition
If you know your darts and make successful darts bets, then have a go at adding your tips in OLBG's PDC World Darts Championship Tipster Competition.
There is a £500 total prize fund and 38 cash prizes available, with £200 going to the tipster who finishes the competition with the highest level stakes profit.
There is a £100 cash prize for the runner-up, £25 for 3rd place and £5 prizes for the next best 35 tipsters.
The 2025 PDC World Darts Championship Tipster Competition winner was EDHINO with a 544 LSP to 10-point stakes.
Monthly Darts Tipster Competition
In addition to the £500 PDC World Darts Championship Tipster Competition, we have a monthly darts tipster competition for OLBG tipsters adding their darts tips.
There are £100 and 15 cash prizes on offer each month of the year; the darts tipster finishing the month with the highest level stakes profit wins the £25 top prize.
Come and have a go and add your darts tips, and whoever you decide to back, good luck with your bets on the PDC World Championship!
PDC World Darts Championship Preview
The PDC World Darts Championship is one of the sports betting highlights of the Christmas period for sports fans. The 2019/20 Championship saw Fallon Sherrock become the first lady to win a match at the championship, making her way through to the 3rd round.
When is the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship?
The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship starts on Thursday 11th December and finishes on Saturday 3rd January.
What day is the 2026 World Championship Darts Final on?
The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship Final is on Saturday 3rd January.
Where is the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship?
The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship is at Alexandra Palace, London, U.K.
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship?
Luke Littler is the current PDC World Darts champion and bookies favourite in the PDC World Darts Championship odds.
| PDC World Championship 03 Jan @ 20:00 - Win Tournament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Luke Littler | 1.91 | |
| Luke Humphries | 5.50 | |
| Gian van Veen | 17.00 | |
| Josh Rock | 17.00 | |
| Gerwyn Price | 19.00 | |
Take a look at the OLBG Best Darts Tipsters page to see who the best-performing darts tipsters are selecting to progress through the knockout stages and ultimately win the PDC World Darts Championship.
PDC World Darts Championship Format & Schedule
How does the PDC World Darts Championship work?
Ninety-six players contest the 2026 Paddy Power-sponsored PDC World Darts Championship.
A straight knockout tournament starting with 32 First Round matches, where the winners join the top 32 players in the PDC Order of Merit who are seeded and start the Championship in the Second Round.
The winners of each match advance to the next round until the Final to see who will lift the Sid Waddell Trophy.
- First Round: Best of 5 Sets
- Second Round: Best of 5 Sets
- Third Round: Best of 7 Sets
- Fourth Round: Best of 7 Sets
- Quarter Finals: Best of 9 Sets
- Semi-Finals: Best of 11 Sets
- Final: Best of 13 Sets
What is the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship draw?
The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship draw will be confirmed when the qualification tournaments have finished. For details on the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship draw and latest news, head over to the official PDC website.
🎯 Darts Hotbeds - Where do the Best Darts Players Come From?
PDC World Darts Championship Qualification
- The top 32 players in the PDC Order of Merit rankings qualify and receive an automatic bye into the 2nd round.
- The highest 32 players (not already qualified via the above) in the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit rankings qualify.
- The remaining 32 slots are filled by players qualifying via other tours and tournaments played globally.
PDC Order of Merit
(Top 20 players as of 5th December 2025)
| Rank | Player | PDC Apps. | PDC Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Luke Littler | 2 | Won (2025) |
| 2. | Luke Humphries | 8 | Won (2024) |
3. | Michael van Gerwen | 14 | Won (2014, 2017 & 2019) |
| 4. | Stephen Bunting | 11 | SF (2021 & 2025) |
| 5. | Jonny Clayton | 9 | QF (2023) |
| 6. | Danny Noppert | 7 | 3R (2020 to 2023) |
| 7. | James Wade | 21 | SF (2009, 2012, 2013 & 2022) |
| 8. | Chris Dobey | 9 | SF (2025) |
| 9. | Gerwyn Price | 11 | Won (2021) |
| 10. | Gian van Veen | 2 | 2R (2025) |
| 11. | Josh Rock | 3 | 4R (2023) |
| 12. | Ross Smith | 8 | 3R (2022 to 2024) |
| 13. | Martin Schindler | 6 | 3R (2023 & 2024) |
| 14. | Gary Anderson | 16 | Won (2015 & 2016) |
| 15. | Nathan Aspinall | 7 | SF (2019 & 2020) |
| 16. | Damon Heta | 6 | 4R (2024) |
| 17. | Rob Cross | 8 | Won (2018) |
| 18. | Mike De Decker | 5 | 2R (2022 to 2025) |
| 19. | Jermaine Wattimena | 11 | 3R (2019, 2021 & 2025) |
| 20. | Ryan Searle | 7 | 4R (2019, 2021 & 2022) |
Check out the current top 32-ranked players in the PDC Order of Merit and PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit in more detail on the official PDC website.
PDC World Darts Championship Previous Winners
Who won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2025?
Luke Littler won his first PDC World Darts Championship title by beating three-time winner Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final.
PDC World Darts Championship Last 10 Winners
Before deciding on your PDC World Championship betting picks, it is worth looking back over recent years and seeing which players have a good record in the event.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Luke Littler | Michael van Gerwen | 7-3 |
| 2024 | Luke Humphries | Luke Littler | 7-4 |
| 2023 | Michael Smith | Michael van Gerwen | 7-4 |
| 2022 | Peter Wright | Michael Smith | 7-5 |
| 2021 | Gerwyn Price | Gary Anderson | 7-3 |
| 2020 | Peter Wright | Michael van Gerwen | 7-3 |
| 2019 | Michael van Gerwen | Michael Smith | 7-3 |
| 2018 | Rob Cross | Phil Taylor | 7-2 |
| 2017 | Michael van Gerwen | Gary Anderson | 7-3 |
| 2016 | Gary Anderson | Adrian Lewis | 7-5 |
Previous PDC World Darts Championship Finalists (Active)
| Player | Finals | Won | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael van Gerwen | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Gary Anderson | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Adrian Lewis | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| John Part | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Peter Wright | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Michael Smith | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Luke Littler | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Raymond van Barneveld | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Rob Cross | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Gerwyn Price | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Luke Humphries | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Kirk Shepherd | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Andy Hamilton | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Simon Whitlock | 1 | 0 | 1 |
PDC World Darts Championship Records & Statistics
Who was the first PDC World Darts Championship Winner?
- Dennis Priestley won the inaugural PDC World Darts Championship in 1994, beating Phil Taylor 6-1 in the final.
Who has won the most PDC World Darts Championship Titles?
- The now-retired Phil Taylor holds the record with 14 PDC World Darts Championship titles from 1995 to 2013.
There have been six multiple PDC World Darts Champions:
- 14 - Phil Taylor (1995 to 2002, 2004 to 2006, 2009 & 2010, 2013)
- 3 - Michael van Gerwen (2014, 2017 & 2019)
- 2 - John Part (2003 & 2008)
- 2 - Adrian Lewis (2011 & 2012)
- 2 - Gary Anderson (2015 & 2016)
- 2 - Peter Wright (2020 & 2022)
Most Final Appearances (latest)
- 19 - Phil Taylor (2018)
- 6 - Michael van Gerwen (2020)
- 5 - Dennis Priestley (2000)
- 5 - Gary Anderson (2021)
- 3 - Michael Smith (2023)
- 3 - Peter Wright (2022)
- 3 - Adrian Lewis (2016)
- 3 - John Part (2008)
- 3 - Peter Manley (2006)
Most 180s In A Match
- 24 - Peter Wright v Gary Anderson (Semi-Final 2022)
- 24 - Michael Smith v Peter Wright (Final 2022)
Most 180s In A Tournament
- 83 - Michael Smith (2022)
Best Winning 3 Dart Average
- 114.05 - Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld (Semi Final 2017)
The Average 3 Dart Score of the Top 32 PDC Darts Players
PDC World Darts Championship Tips
PDC World Darts Daily Tips
We have already looked at who the OLBG darts tipsters may be selecting to win the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, and don't forget to check out the free daily PDC World Darts Championship tips from OLBG's knowledgeable darts tipsters. Their PDC World Darts predictions for the daily matches throughout the tournament will be available to view as soon as the draw has been made and the match odds are available.
Best OLBG Darts Tipsters
There are numerous knowledgeable darts tipsters adding darts tips on OLBG. At the time of writing (26th November 2025), the top darts tipsters at OLBG for profitable tips (to 10-point stakes) over the last twelve months are listed below. You can now follow OLBG tipsters and receive instant tip notifications on the OLBG tips app.
Don't forget to check out the free daily PDC World Darts Championship tips from OLBG's Best Darts Tipsters throughout the tournament.
Author and Contributor Information
OLBG Sponsored Darts Professional
Matthew Edgar is a professional darts player and Sky Sports commentator, currently aiming for Lakeside 2025 via the WDF circuit. A former football coach and trained MMA fighter, he’s best known to fans through Edgar TV, his popular YouTube channel sharing insights from the oche.
Sponsored by OLBG, Matthew contributes expert darts content, combining years on the PDC tour with a passion for coaching and development. His unique blend of experience makes him a standout voice in the darts community.
Follow Matthew as he targets Lakeside and the WDF World Championships
Content Editor / Fact Checker
