PDC World Championship
PDC World Championship odds: All you need to know about the darts Championship
The darting calendar’s biggest spectacle, the PDC World Darts Championship, returns to Alexandra Palace this month for the 31st edition of the tournament.
We’ve taken a look at all you need to know about the championship, from its format, fixtures and schedule to the latest odds for the competition.
Latest darts betting at William Hill.
What is the PDC World Darts Championship?
The PDC World Darts Championship is an annual darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and is the most prestigious of the PDC’s tournaments. The tournament attracts the world’s best darts players ever, who fight it out for the Sid Waddell Trophy – named after famous darts commentator Sid Waddell.
The championship has been held at Alexandra Palace in London since 2008 and typically starts in December and ends in January each year. The tournament has been running since 1994, though it was originally called the WDC World Darts Championship before the World Darts Council became the PDC.
The tournament’s most successful player is Phil Taylor, who managed an impressive 14 triumphs from 25 appearances, last winning the competition in 2013. He is considered the best darts player ever. Next in line is current player Michael van Gerwen, who has won the title three times from his 14 appearances. Michael Smith is the defending champion, having beaten Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final to claim his first title.
What is the format and how many sets are in darts?
There are 96 players that compete each year, with the 32 highest ranked players on the PDC Order of Merit (the PDC world rankings) automatically earning a place in the second round. The 32 highest ranked players on the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit that have not already qualified start in the first round alongside 32 qualifiers from around the world.
The championship starts out with a best of five sets format in the first and second rounds, with that increasing as the tournament progresses until the final which involves a best of 13 sets.
- First round: Best of five sets
- Second round: Best of five sets
- Third round: Best of seven sets
- Fourth round: Best of seven sets
- Quarter-finals: Best of nine sets
- Semi-finals: Best of 11 sets
- Final: Best of 13 sets
What is the prize money for the World Darts Championship 2024?
There is a total of £2,500,000 on offer for players competing in the competition, with prizes available ranging from £7,500 for a place in the first round to £500,000 for the winner of the tournament.
| Position | No. of players | Prize money |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1 | £500,000 |
| Runner-up | 1 | £200,000 |
| Semi-finalists | 2 | £100,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | 4 | £50,000 |
| Fourth round losers | 8 | £35,000 |
| Third round losers | 16 | £25,000 |
| Second round losers | 32 | £15,000 |
| First round losers | 32 | £7,500 |
PDC World Darts Championship schedule
| Start Date | End Date | Match | Sets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-Dec-22 | 21-Dec-22 | Round One Matches | Best of 5 |
| 15-Dec-22 | 23-Dec-22 | Round Two Matches | Best of 5 |
| 27-Dec-22 | 29-Dec-22 | Round Three Matches | Best of 7 |
| 29-Dec-22 | 30-Dec-22 | Round Four Matches | Best of 7 |
| 01-Jan-23 | 01-Jan-23 | Quarter Finals | Best of 9 |
| 02-Jan-23 | 02-Jan-23 | Semi-Finals | Best of 11 |
| 03-Jan-23 | 03-Jan-23 | Final | Best of 13 |
PDC World Championship odds
Despite not winning the tournament since 2019, Michael van Gerwen is the 3/1 favourite to add to his three World Darts Championship titles later in January. That price puts him ahead of the in form Luke Humphries (7/2), as well as Gerwyn Price (5/1) and reigning champion Michael Smith (9/1).
The surprise package of the tournament is 16-year-old Luke Littler who is now 9/1 having started the tournament as one of the outsiders. Two-time winner Gary Anderson finds himself an 11/1 shot for Alexandra Palace glory, whilst fan-favourite Stephen Bunting is many people’s outsider pick at 40/1.
