The incredible economic growth of darts: Littler aims for over a million dollars
The world darts champion would take home a prize that has risen from $40,000 to $1.3 million in 25 years.
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old world darts champion, is set to receive a £1,000,000 prize (around $1,300,000) in 2026. This represents a 100% increase from last year, when the winner received £500,000 ($650,000) after defeating Michael van Gerwen in London. Twenty-five years ago, the prize was just £31,000 ($40,000).
This Monday, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) announced that the total investment across all its competitions will increase to $32,000,000, seven million more than last year. The number of participants will also rise from the current 96 players to around 128.
“The £1 million prize for the World Champion reflects darts’ standing as one of the most exciting and in-demand sports in the world and the historic total will rightly attract headlines” stated PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter in a press release.
The biggest star of the sport is Luke Littler, an 18-year-old who shocked the world in 2024 when he reached the World Championship final in his debut, climbing from 164th place in the rankings to the very top. He did not win the title, losing to Luke Humphries, but the experience turned him into a celebrity. A few months later, he got his revenge, claiming the championship and becoming the youngest winner in history at 17 years and 348 days old.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment