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The PDC World Darts Championship 2024-25 is almost here.
World number one Luke Humphries returns to Ally Pally hoping to defend his title. against worthy rivals like the teenage sensation Lucas Littler and three-time champion Michael van Gerwen.
Last year’s tournament was full of thrills, surprises and wow moments, and more of the same can be expected from this year’s competition.
luke Littler, who burst onto the scene this time last year, is the favorite to claim the title after his impressive performance last December. The 16-year-old put in mesmerizing displays against some of the biggest names in darts to reach the final on his debut. .
However, the teenage sensation was denied his fairytale ending as Humphries defeated him 7-4 in the final.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about this year’s championship, including start date, schedule, competitors and where to watch.
World number one Luke Humphries returns to Ally Pally hoping to defend his title.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler (pictured) and three-time champion Michael van Gerwen are among the favorites to claim the top prize.
When is the World Darts Championship?
The 2024-25 World Darts Championship will begin on Sunday 15 December at Alexandra Palace in London.
During the two-week event, the tournament will take a three-day break, from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.
The last day of the competition is set for Friday, January 3.
Where to look?
This year’s PDC World Darts Championship will be available to watch live on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel.
Coverage of the event will begin on December 15 and will run until the final on Friday, January 3.
For darts fans on the go this festive season, the championship will also be available to watch in a live stream via the Sky Go app and Now TV.
The 2024-25 World Darts Championship will begin on Sunday 15 December at Alexandra Palace in London.
Schedule
The ties for the first and second rounds of the competition were drawn on Monday, November 25, and they did not disappoint.
Last year’s runner-up and new poster boy for the sport, Luke Littler, has been paired against Fallon Sherrock in their opening clash, as she defeats Ryan Meikle in their first round eliminator.
While Michael Smith could begin his campaign against transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven if he defeats Kevin Doets.
Defending champion Luke Humphries will face either Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito in his first round draw.
List of matches
Sunday, December 15 (7:00 p.m.)
- Thibault Tricole vs Joe Comito (R1)
- Jermaine Wattimena vs. Stefan Bellmont (R1)
- Kim Huybrechts vs. Keane Barry (R1)
- Luke Humphries (1) vs Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito (R2)
Monday December 16
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- Wesley Plaisier vs. Ryusei Azemoto (R1)
- Luke Woodhouse vs. Lourence Ilagan (R1)
- Alan Soutar vs. Kai Gotthardt (R1)
- James Wade (16) vs Jermaine Wattimena or Stefan Bellmont (R2)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Niels Zonneveld vs. Robert Owen (R1)
- Connor Scutt vs. Ben Robb (R1)
- Cameron Menzies vs. Leonard Gates (R1)
- Gerwyn Price (10) vs Kim Huybrechts or Keane Barry (R2)
Tuesday December 17
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- James Hurrell vs. Jim Long (R1)
- Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven (R1)
- Ryan Joyce vs. Darius Labanauskas (R1)
- Mike De Decker (24) vs. Luke Woodhouse or Lourence Ilagan (R2)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Jeffrey de Graaf vs. Rashad Sweeting (R1)
- Ricardo Pietreczko vs Xiaochen Zong (R1)
- Ryan Meikle vs. Fallon Sherrock (R1)
- Peter Wright (17) vs Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto (R2)
Wednesday, December 18 (7:00 p.m.)
- Jim Williams vs Paolo Nebrida (R1)
- Madars Razma vs. Christian Kist (R1)
- Ricky Evans vs. Gordon Mathers (R1)
- Nathan Aspinall (12) vs. Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates (R2)
Thursday December 19
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- Chris Landman vs. Lok Yin Lee (R1)
- Callan Rydz vs Romeo Grbavac (R1)
- Martin Lukeman vs. Nitin Kumar
- Gabriel Clemens (27) vs Niels Zonneveld or Robert Owen (R2
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Nick Kenny vs. Stowe Buntz (R1)
- Mensur Suljovic vs Matt Campbell (R1)
- Scott Williams vs. Niko Springer (R1)
- Michael Smith (2) vs Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven (R2)
Michael Smith can start his campaign against transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Van Leuven must defeat Kevin Doets in their first round matchup if he is to secure a draw in the second round.
Friday December 20
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- Stephen Burton vs. Alexander Merkx (R1)
- Wessel Nijman vs Cameron Carolissen (R1)
- Ian White vs Sandro Eric Sosing (R1)
- Stephen Bunting (8) vs. Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt (R2)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Mickey Mansell vs. Tomoya Goto (R1)
- Florian Hempel vs. Jeffrey De Zwaan (R1)
- William O’Connor vs. Dylan Slevin (R1)
- Michael van Gerwen (3) vs James Hurrell or Jim Long (R2)
Saturday December 21
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin (R1)
- Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo (R1)
- Brendan Dolan (30) vs. Chris Landman or Lok Yin Lee (R2)
- Chris Dobey (15) vs. Stephen Burton or Alexander Merkx (R2)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Danny Noppert (13) vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas (R2)
- Raymond van Barneveld (32) vs Nick Kenny or Stowe Buntz (R2)
- Luke Littler (4) vs. Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock (R2)
- Damon Heta (9) vs. Connor Scutt or Ben Robb (R2)
Last year’s runner-up, Luke Littler, could face Fallon Sherrock in his first match.
Sherrock must beat Ryan Meikle in the first round if he wants to face ‘The Nuxe’
Sunday December 22
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- Ryan Searle (20) vs Mensur Suljovic or Matt Campbell (R2)
- Dirk van Duijvenbode (25) vs Madars Razma or Christian Kist (R2)
- Joe Cullen (23) vs Wessel Nijman or Cameron Carolissen (R2)
- Ritchie Edhouse (29) vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing (R2)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Martin Schindler (22) vs Callan Rydz or Romeo Grbavac (R2)
- Ross Smith (19) vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida (R2)
- Gary Anderson (14) vs. Jeffrey de Graaf vs. Rashad Sweeting (R2)
- Dimitri van den Bergh (11) vs William O’Connor or Dylan Slevin (R2)
Monday December 23
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
- Krzysztof Ratajski (31) vs Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo (R2)
- Andrew Gilding (21) vs. Martin Lukeman or Nitin Kumar (R2)
- Josh Rock (18) vs. Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin (R2)
- Jonny Clayton (7) vs Mickey Mansell or Tomoya Goto (R2)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- Gian van Veen (28) vs Ricardo Pietreczko or Xiaochen Zong (R2)
- Daryl Gurney (26) vs Florian Hempel or Jeffrey De Zwaan (R2)
- Dave Chisnall (6) vs. Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers (R2)
- Rob Cross (5) vs. Scott Williams or Niko Springer (R2)
Friday December 27
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday December 28
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
Sunday December 29
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
- 1x Third Round, 2x Fourth Round
Monday December 30
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday January 1
Afternoon session (12:30 p.m.)
Afternoon session (7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, January 2 (7:30 p.m.)
Friday, January 3 (8:00 p.m.)
The final of the 2024-25 World Darts Championship will take place on Friday, January 3
Format
- First Round: Best of five sets
- Second Round: Best of five sets
- Third Round: Best of seven sets
- Fourth Round: Best of seven sets
- Quarterfinals: Best of nine sets
- Semifinal: Best of 11 sets
- Final: Best of 13 sets
cash prize
The total prize pool for this year’s World Darts Championship is a whopping £2.5 million.
Just a first round appearance will see players go home with £7,500, with their purse increasing if they advance further in the competition.
The winner will pocket a whopping £500,000 for their performance, with second place taking home £200,000.
Prize Pool Breakdown:
- Winner: £500,000
- Runner-up: £200,000
- Semi-final: £100,000
- Quarterfinals: £50,000
- Fourth Round: £35,000
- Third Round: £25,000
- Second Round: £15,000
- First round: £7,500
- Total: £2,500,000
The total prize pool for this year’s World Darts Championship is a whopping £2.5 million.
Nine dart bonus
Paddy Power has agreed to pay a bonus of £180,000 for every nine darts in this year’s championship.
The six-figure bonus will be split equally between the player who bowls the perfect leg, Prostate Cancer UK and one lucky supporter in the crowd at Alexandra Palace.