WDF World Darts Championship
The WDF World Darts Championship is an annual professional knockout tournament in darts, organized by the World Darts Federation (WDF), featuring separate men's and women's singles events alongside youth categories.[1][2] First held in 2022 following the collapse of the British Darts Organisation (BDO), it has been staged at the iconic Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, England, establishing itself as the flagship event of the World Darts Federation in the sport.[3][4] The event typically spans 10 days in late November or early December, drawing 48 male and 24 female competitors qualified through WDF regional tournaments and ranked order of merit lists.[5] Since its inception, the men's title has been won by Neil Duff of Scotland in 2022, Andy Baetens of Belgium in 2023, and Shane McGuirk of Ireland in 2024, with the 2025 edition scheduled to begin on November 28.[1][6] In the women's competition, England's Beau Greaves has dominated, securing three consecutive victories from 2022 to 2024.[2][4] The tournament offers a total prize fund of £221,000, with £50,000 awarded to the men's singles champion and £25,000 to the women's singles champion, underscoring its role in promoting grassroots and international darts development under WDF governance.[5] Youth events, including boys' and girls' championships, further highlight emerging talent, as seen in 2024 when American Paige Pauling claimed the girls' title.[7]Overview
Format and rules
The WDF World Darts Championship employs a single-elimination tournament structure across its four categories—men's open, women's, boys' youth, and girls' youth—with seeded players receiving byes into later rounds based on WDF rankings. Qualification is determined primarily through the WDF ranking system, though the tournament itself focuses on knockout play from the last 48 or fewer depending on the category. All matches follow the standard 501 scoring format, where players start at 501 points and subtract the value of each dart thrown (maximum three per turn), aiming to reach exactly zero; a score that would reduce the total below zero or not end on a double results in a "bust," resetting the player's score to 501 for that turn. There is no double-in requirement, allowing play to commence on any scoring area, but a double (including the double bull) is mandatory to finish.[8] Matches are structured in sets, with each set played as the best of five legs; a leg is a single game from 501 to zero, won by the first player to finish, and the set winner is the first to secure three legs. The number of sets varies by round and category to balance competitiveness and duration, ensuring an odd total for decisive outcomes. In the event of a 2-2 tie in legs within the final set of a match, the fifth leg serves as the decider.[8] The men's open category features the longest formats, accommodating up to 48 players, with top seeds entering at the last 32 stage:| Round | Sets Format |
|---|---|
| Last 48 | Best of 5 |
| Last 32 | Best of 5 |
| Last 16 | Best of 5 |
| Quarter-finals | Best of 7 |
| Semi-finals | Best of 9 |
| Final | Best of 11 |
| Round | Sets Format |
|---|---|
| Last 24 | Best of 3 |
| Last 16 | Best of 3 |
| Quarter-finals | Best of 5 |
| Semi-finals | Best of 5 |
| Final | Best of 7 |
| Round | Sets Format |
|---|---|
| Quarter-finals | Best of 3 |
| Semi-finals | Best of 5 |
| Final | Best of 7 |
| Round | Sets Format |
|---|---|
| Semi-finals | Best of 3 |
| Final | Best of 5 |
Prize money and rewards
The prize money for the WDF World Darts Championship totals £221,000 in 2025, marking the largest purse outside the PDC circuit and remaining unchanged from 2024.[5] This fund is distributed across the men's, women's, boys', and girls' singles events, with all first-round participants guaranteed a minimum payout to encourage broad participation.[13] In the men's singles, the winner receives £50,000, the runner-up £16,000, each semi-finalist £8,000, quarter-finalists £4,000 each, those reaching the last 16 £2,000 each, last 32 £1,250 each, and last 48 £750 each.[5] The women's singles follows a scaled structure with the winner earning £25,000—the highest single prize in any global women's darts event—the runner-up £8,000, semi-finalists £4,000 each, quarter-finalists £2,000 each, last 16 £1,000 each, and last 24 £750 each.[5] For the youth categories, the boys' singles winner takes £3,000, runner-up £1,500, semi-finalists £1,000 each, and quarter-finalists £500 each, while the girls' singles offers £1,500 to the winner, £1,000 to the runner-up, and £500 each to semi-finalists.[13]| Stage | Men's Singles | Women's Singles | Boys' Singles | Girls' Singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | £50,000 | £25,000 | £3,000 | £1,500 |
| Runner-up | £16,000 | £8,000 | £1,500 | £1,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £8,000 | £4,000 | £1,000 | £500 |
| Quarter-finalists | £4,000 | £2,000 | £500 | - |
| Last 16/24/32/48 | £2,000–£750 | £1,000–£750 | - | - |
History
Origins and establishment
The WDF World Darts Championship traces its origins to the British Darts Organisation (BDO) World Darts Championship, which ran annually from 1978 to 2020 as the premier event in non-professional darts. The BDO event, held predominantly at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, England, faced mounting organizational and financial difficulties in its later years, culminating in the organization's collapse into administration in September 2020 due to insurmountable debts and governance failures.[18] In response to the BDO's demise, the World Darts Federation (WDF), the international governing body for darts established in 1973, assumed control of major events previously sanctioned through the BDO and announced the creation of its own World Darts Championship in late 2021 to preserve the sport's traditional structure and global appeal. The inaugural edition was scheduled for 2022 at the iconic Lakeside venue, marking a direct succession to the BDO tournament while emphasizing the WDF's role in sustaining the event amid the dominance of the rival Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit.[3][19] The championship's founding purpose was to promote and regulate international darts competition outside the PDC's professional ecosystem, focusing on ranked players from WDF member nations to foster amateur and semi-professional development worldwide. Initial categories included men's singles, women's singles, boys' singles, and girls' singles, with the event designed to highlight emerging talent and national representation rather than high-stakes professionalism. WDF President Bill Hatter played a pivotal role in the establishment, overseeing the transition and advocating for the retention of Lakeside as the venue to honor darts' historical roots and ensure continuity for players and fans.[20][21] The 2022 tournament, held from April 2 to 10, featured 48 entrants in the men's singles and 24 in the women's singles, alongside youth categories qualified through prior WDF events, with a total prize fund of £300,000 distributed across the competitions. This setup established the championship as a cornerstone of the WDF calendar, drawing participants from 18 countries and reviving the Lakeside tradition under new governance.[22][23][15]Key developments and venue changes
The WDF World Darts Championship has undergone several significant venue changes since its origins under the British Darts Organisation (BDO). From 1986 to 2019, the event was held exclusively at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, England, establishing it as the traditional "home of world darts."[24] In 2020, amid financial difficulties for the BDO, the tournament shifted to the larger Indigo at The O2 arena in London to attract bigger crowds and boost revenue, though attendance remained low.[25] The BDO's subsequent collapse in September 2020, compounded by COVID-19 restrictions, led to no championship being held in 2021. The World Darts Federation (WDF) revived the event in 2022, returning to Lakeside Country Club, where it has remained the primary venue through 2024 and into 2025, with the 2025 edition scheduled from November 28 to December 7.[9] Key organizational developments have focused on enhancing the tournament's global reach and structure in response to competition from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). The WDF overhauled its ranking system in 2021, integrating a broader calendar of ranked events to better qualify players and promote international participation, including a five-year partnership with DartConnect for real-time results and seeding.[26][27] To differentiate from the PDC's professional focus, the WDF has emphasized inclusivity for non-professional and amateur players, though tensions arose in 2023 when the PDC prohibited its qualified players from competing in the WDF Worlds, limiting cross-participation.[28] Format expansions have increased the event's scale and competitiveness. The men's field grew from 40 entrants in the final BDO edition in 2020 to 48 players starting in 2022, allowing greater representation from WDF member nations.[29][30] International participation has expanded notably, with 21 countries represented in the 2024 men's draw, up from fewer in earlier years, reflecting the WDF's efforts to include diverse regions.[31] Youth categories have also grown, with the boys' and girls' events expanding to 8 and 4 entrants respectively in 2024, drawing from more nations via updated qualification criteria.[32] Notable milestones include a prize fund of £257,000 across all categories in 2023, down from £300,000 in 2022, supporting the event's financial stability and appeal to international competitors.[14][23] These changes have solidified the WDF Championship as a key platform for grassroots and global darts development.Qualification
Ranking system
The World Darts Federation (WDF) employs a points-based ranking system to evaluate player performances in graded tournaments, determining eligibility and seeding for major events including the World Darts Championship. Separate rankings are maintained for men's open, women's open, boys' open (youth under 18), and girls' categories, with points accumulated solely from participation in WDF-sanctioned tournaments graded as Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze based on the number of entrants.[33][34] Rankings are calculated using a 52-week rolling period, where players' totals reflect their best 10 scoring performances for main (global) tables and best 8 for regional tables, emphasizing consistent high-level results over the year. Higher weights are assigned to major events through elevated points for Platinum and Gold grades, while lower-tier Bronze events offer scaled rewards. Tables are updated weekly on the official WDF website to reflect recent tournament outcomes.[35][33] Points are awarded based on finishing position and tournament grade, with the following representative scale for singles events (minimum entrants required for each position to earn points, e.g., 2 for winner in Bronze):| Position | Platinum/Majors | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 270 | 180 | 90 | 45 |
| Runner-up | 167 | 111 | 56 | 28 |
| Semi-final | 103 | 68 | 34 | 17 |
| Quarter-final | 64 | 43 | 21 | 11 |
| Last 16 | 39 | 26 | 13 | 6 |
Entry process and eligibility
The entry process for the WDF World Darts Championship begins with eligibility criteria designed to ensure broad participation while maintaining competitive integrity. Participants in the senior men's and women's events must be members of a WDF-affiliated national federation. Holders of a PDC Tour Card are ineligible for WDF-sanctioned competitions.[38] For the youth categories, boys' and girls' singles are restricted to players under the age of 18 as of December 31 of the preceding year, fostering development among junior athletes while adhering to strict age verification requirements, such as passport submission.[37][39] Nomination and qualification occur primarily through the WDF's ranking system, where national member federations play a key role by organizing events that contribute to regional and world rankings. The WDF allocates a fixed number of spots to promote global representation: 48 for men's singles, 24 for women's singles, 8 for boys' singles (open youth), and 4 for girls' singles. These spots are filled via a combination of the WDF World Championship Race Table (top performers from the ranking season, November 1 to November 1), winners of Platinum and Gold-ranked tournaments, and regional allocations—such as two players each from nine major regions in the men's event (e.g., Asia, Australia, and Europe zones) and one from smaller areas like Africa/Western Asia, with a minimum participation threshold of five tournaments across three countries for multi-nation regions. Any unfilled spots or declines are addressed by drawing from the next highest-ranked eligible players in the respective tables, ensuring automatic nomination based on merit.[36][37][40] The draw and scheduling follow qualification cut-offs tied to the ranking season's end, with seeded placements for top performers—16 in men's, 8 in women's, 4 in boys', and 2 in girls'—to balance the bracket. For the 2025 event, the official seeded draw occurred on November 2, 2025, broadcast live, placing seeds in predetermined positions (e.g., 1 vs. 16, 8 vs. 9) while randomly assigning non-seeds, with withdrawals before the draw replaced by the next ranked player. Play-offs for remaining spots, such as the men's (4 spots) and women's (2 spots), were held in early November 2025, finalizing the field ahead of the main event starting November 28.[41][36][37] Special entries are limited, with no standard wildcards allocated for the host nation or defending champions in recent editions, though the regional structure inherently supports representation from diverse areas to encourage worldwide participation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 championship was postponed from January to April due to health concerns and potential restrictions, but the field size remained intact without reductions. This regional allocation system, by guaranteeing spots from underrepresented continents like Africa and Asia, aids diversity efforts and global growth of the sport.[36][42][43]Results
Men's singles
The men's singles event is the premier competition within the WDF World Darts Championship, contested annually in a single-elimination format among the top-ranked male players from WDF member nations. Held at the iconic Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, England, the tournament begins with a last-32 round and progresses through best-of-5 and best-of-11 sets to the final, emphasizing precision, strategy, and endurance over 501-point legs. Since its inception in 2022 following the restructuring of world darts governance, the event has showcased rising international talent while maintaining the traditional Lakeside legacy.[1] The inaugural 2022 championship culminated in a dramatic final where Scotland's Neil Duff defeated France's Thibault Tricole 6-5 after 11 tense sets, with Duff posting a match average of 87.73 and both players hitting six 180s; Tricole had led 3-1 before Duff's comeback secured the title.[44] In 2023, Belgium's Andy Baetens asserted European dominance by thrashing the Netherlands' Chris Landman 6-1 in the final, averaging 94.82 across the match after opening with sets above 100 to claim Belgium's first world darts crown.[45] Baetens' path included consistent 90-plus averages in earlier rounds, highlighting his qualification via the WDF Pro Tour. The 2024 edition saw Republic of Ireland's Shane McGuirk etch his name in history as the first Irish winner, overcoming 70-year-old Singapore veteran Paul Lim 6-3 with a 90.31 average, while Lim managed 83.92 despite his remarkable semifinal run.[6]| Year | Champion | Nationality | Score | Runner-up | Nationality | Final Average (Champion) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Neil Duff | Scotland | 6–5 | Thibault Tricole | France | 87.73[44] |
| 2023 | Andy Baetens | Belgium | 6–1 | Chris Landman | Netherlands | 94.82[45] |
| 2024 | Shane McGuirk | Ireland | 6–3 | Paul Lim | Singapore | 90.31[6] |
Women's singles
The women's singles event at the WDF World Darts Championship features a field of 24 players competing in a knockout format, with the final played as a best-of-7 sets match.[22][10] This structure highlights the growing prominence of women's darts, as evidenced by consistent international participation since the tournament's inception in 2022.[46] The inaugural 2022 championship saw England's Beau Greaves, then 17, emerge as champion after defeating compatriot Kirsty Hutchinson 4-0 in the final, where Greaves recorded a tournament-record average of 92.05—the highest in a women's world final.[47][48] Greaves' dominant run included a semi-final victory over Lorraine Winstanley, underscoring England's strong hold on the title.[47] In 2023, Greaves defended her title successfully, beating Netherlands' Aileen de Graaf 4-1 in the final and maintaining her unbeaten streak in major WDF events.[49] The match showcased high-scoring play, with Greaves advancing past Rhian O'Sullivan in the semi-finals to affirm English dominance amid rising challenges from Dutch players like de Graaf.[49] Greaves achieved a three-peat in 2024, overcoming Scotland's Sophie McKinlay 4-1 in the final after rallying from an early set deficit.[4] This victory highlighted continued English supremacy, with Greaves' performances in high-stakes finals—such as her 2022 average—elevating the event's competitive intensity, while Dutch contenders signal broader European growth in the sport.[4][48]| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Beau Greaves (England) | Kirsty Hutchinson (England) | 4–0 | Greaves' 92.05 average sets women's final record[48] |
| 2023 | Beau Greaves (England) | Aileen de Graaf (Netherlands) | 4–1 | Repeat title amid Dutch challenge[49] |
| 2024 | Beau Greaves (England) | Sophie McKinlay (Scotland) | 4–1 | Three-peat secured with comeback win[4] |
Boys' singles
The Boys' singles event in the WDF World Darts Championship is open to male players under the age of 18 and features a 16-player knockout draw, with matches progressing to a best-of-five sets final.[50][5] The tournament began its modern Lakeside era in 2022, when 17-year-old Bradly Roes from the Netherlands claimed the inaugural title by defeating England's Charlie Large 3-1 in the final. Roes' victory marked the emergence of strong continental European talent in the youth category.[51] In 2023, another Dutch player, 15-year-old Bradley van der Velden, dominated the event, securing a straight 3-0 win over Ireland's Adam Dee in the final to become the youngest champion in the category's history at that point. Van der Velden's composed performance underscored the Netherlands' rising dominance in junior international darts development.[52] The 2024 edition saw an all-English final, where 15-year-old Archie Self staged a comeback to edge top seed Jenson Walker 3-2, hitting crucial doubles in the decider after trailing 2-1. Self's upset victory as an unseeded player highlighted the event's role in nurturing diverse young talents beyond traditional powerhouses.[53][50] These results reflect increasing non-UK representation, with back-to-back Dutch champions promoting global junior growth in the sport.[54]| Year | Winner | Nationality | Runner-up | Nationality | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Bradly Roes | Netherlands | Charlie Large | England | 3–1 |
| 2023 | Bradley van der Velden | Netherlands | Adam Dee | Ireland | 3–0 |
| 2024 | Archie Self | England | Jenson Walker | England | 3–2 |
Girls' singles
The Girls' singles event at the WDF World Darts Championship is contested by female players under the age of 18, featuring a compact field of four entrants in a single-elimination format with semi-finals and final played as best-of-three sets, each set best-of-five legs.[55][56] The inaugural edition in 2022 was won by England's Eleanor Cairns, who defeated Germany's Wibke Riemann 2-0 in the final, marking the first title in the shortened youth format introduced that year.[57] In 2023, Italy's Aurora Fochesato became the first non-British winner by beating Hungary's Krisztina Turai 2-0 in the final, a milestone for Italian darts on the Lakeside stage.[58] The 2024 champion was England's Paige Pauling, who secured a 2-0 victory over Scotland's Sophie McKinlay in the final at age 16, highlighting the event's role in nurturing young talent.[59]| Year | Winner | Nationality | Runner-up | Nationality | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Eleanor Cairns | England | Wibke Riemann | Germany | 2–0 |
| 2023 | Aurora Fochesato | Italy | Krisztina Turai | Hungary | 2–0 |
| 2024 | Paige Pauling | England | Sophie McKinlay | Scotland | 2–0 |