Darts
PDC World Darts Championship 2025: dates, participants, format and tournament rules
Here is everything you need to know about the World Darts Championship, which will be held at Alexandra Palace in London.
London and the global sporting community are gearing up for one of the year’s most anticipated events: the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, also known as the PDC World Darts Championship 2025. This tournament not only closes out the 2024 sports calendar but also kicks off the 2025 season with thrilling competition.
The championship continues to grow in popularity each year, thanks to star players like Luke Humphries and Michael Van Gerwen, as well as rising talents such as 17-year-old English sensation Luke Littler.
Dates: When is the PDC World Darts Championship 2025?
The Paddy Power World Darts Championship will adhere to its traditional schedule, running from December 15, 2024, to January 3, 2025, at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London.
When does the PDC Darts Championship take place?
From December 15 to 21, all first-round matches will take place during morning sessions (6:30 AM ET) and evening sessions (1:00 PM ET), except for December 15 and 18, when matches will be held exclusively in the evening. Each session during the first round will feature three first-round matches and one second-round match. As per tradition, defending champion Luke Humphries will make his World Championship debut in the final match of the tournament’s opening session.
Starting with the afternoon session on Saturday, December 21, coinciding with Luke Littler’s tournament debut, all matches will be from the second round. Most second-round matches will be played between Saturday, December 21, and Monday, December 23, with four matches scheduled in each morning and evening session.
Following the customary Christmas break, third-round matches will take place from Friday, December 27, to Sunday, December 29. On Sunday evening (1:00 PM ET), the first two fourth round matches will be held. The remaining matches will be played during the morning (6:30 AM ET) and evening (1:30 PM ET) sessions on Monday, December 30.
Match schedule
On New Year’s Day, January 1, the quarterfinal matches will be played, with two matches in the morning session 6:30 AM ET and two more in the evening session at 1:00 PM ET. The semifinals will take place on January 2 during the evening session, starting at 1:30 PM ET. Finally, the grand final of the PDC World Darts Championship 2025 will be held on January 3 at 2:00 PM ET.
Participants of the PDC World Darts Championship 2025
The tournament will feature the biggest names in darts, bringing together a total of 96 players. Notable participants include reigning champion Luke Humphries, fellow Englishman Michael Smith, Dutch legend and three-time world champion Michael Van Gerwen, and 17-year-old English sensation Luke Littler, who was last year’s breakout star.
Other contenders to watch are Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Dave Chisnall, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Damon Heta, Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson, and Nathan Aspinall, all of whom are expected to deliver memorable performances. Fallon Sherrock, the only woman in the final draw, also returns to Alexandra Palace and may face Luke Littler in the second round.
Format and Rules of the PDC World Darts Championship 2025
The format of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship is unique among PDC circuit tournaments, as matches are decided by legs and sets. As with all PDC tournaments, the games are played in the 501 format, where players aim to reduce their score from 501 to zero as efficiently as possible, finishing with a double.
The highest-scoring move is a 180 (three darts in the triple 20), while the fastest way to finish a game is with a nine-dart leg. Each successful finish counts as one leg, and the first player to win three legs secures a set.
The number of sets required to win varies by round. In the first and second rounds, matches are played in a best-of-five sets format (the first to win three sets). In the third round and the Round of 16, matches are played to the best of seven sets (the first to win four sets).
In the quarterfinals, the winner will be determined in a best-of-nine-sets format, requiring five sets to secure victory. The semifinals will be played as a best-of-eleven-sets match, with six sets needed to win. Finally, the grand final will follow a best-of-thirteen-sets format, where the first player to win seven sets will be crowned the world champion.
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