PDC World Darts update: Luke Littler mandated to navigate Wimbledon-like system to secure £1million prize money
Cashing In on Darts: PDC World Championship's Wimbledon-Style Transformation
Get ready for some nail-biting darts action! The PDC World Championship is going big in 2025/26, ramping up the competition with a Wimbledon-like draw and a whopping £1million jackpot.
Gather 'round for this mammoth tournament that'll run from December 2025 to the first week of January 2026. For the very first time, 128 players will take the stage, cranking up the stakes at Alexandra Palace.
Darts enthusiasts, rejoice! The champions' purse has doubled, upping it from a paltry £500,000 to a mind-blowing £1million. The overall prize fund will pass the £5million mark too, making this season's championship the biggest yet.
Remember Luke Littler, our history-making 17-year-old champion? Prepare for a battle royale, mate: seven wins will be needed to claim the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy this time around.
In years past, the top names twirled their darts into the board in the second round, thanks to selective parachuting. But not anymore! This year's tournament will feature a straight 128-player draw, with the top 32 seeded.
Think Wimbledon men's and women's singles draws? That's the changes we're talkin' about. Players ranked 33-64 will face the remaining 64 qualifiers via random draw.
The top 40 players from the PDC Order of Merit following the Players Championship Finals at Butlin's Minehead will qualify automatically, with another 40 from the ProTour Order of Merit joining the fray. Here's the icing on the cake: the remaining 48 spots go to international qualifiers.
Keeping tabs on qualifiers from Australia, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Japan, Poland, and more will definitely up the excitement factor.
Players from Russia and Belarus may join the competition "subject to certain special conditions," given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The PDC hasn't given details on these conditions yet.
Mark your calendars, folks! As the illegal war in Ukraine rages, darts fans will have more money than ever flooding into the sport, thanks to a new five-year £125million Sky Sports TV deal starting later this year.
Now, gather your mates, stock the bar, and get ready for an epic showdown—seven wins will be the difference between a cool £1million and a disappointing runner-up prize. Let the games begin!
Wanna Know More?
- Unraveling the drama behind Littler's performance at the World Cup. Are his and Humphries' friendship under a dark cloud? Click here to uncover the truth.
- Dreaming of luxury rides? Enter here for a chance to win a McLaren or a Mercedes campervan, or claim a £170k cash alternative. Only 34p stands between you and the ride of your dreams!
- Ready to conquer the online casino world? Check out the top casino sites in the UK here. Feeling lucky? Give 'em a spin!
Brace yourself for a thrilling spectacle of sporting competition, as the 2025/26 PDC World Championship ventures into uncharted territory with the introduction of a Wimbledon-style draw and an increased prize fund surpassing £5 million. Darts fans everywhere, gear up for an epic showdown, where a phenomenal £1 million jackpot awaits the eventual champion!
