The world’s biggest darts tournament returns in December as 96 international stars go toe-to-toe at the Ally Pally to win the sport’s most prestigious title.
England’s Michael Smith triumphed in the 2023 edition of the World Darts Championship, winning the title 7-4 against Michael van Gerwen at the start of the year to lift the trophy for the first time. Smith is the No. 1 for this year’s tournament just ahead of last year’s beaten finalist Van Gerwen.
Luke Humphries is seeded third, after winning three televised ranking titles over the last seven weeks while two-time World Champion Peter Wright begins his campaign as the fourth seed. 2021 winner Gerwyn Price and World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall are seeded fifth and sixth respectively.
Fallon Sherrock, who created history by becoming the first female player to win a match at the World Darts Championship in 2019/2020, will compete in the tournament and faces Jermaine Wattimena in the first round.
Here’s everything you need to know:
When is the World Darts Championship?
The World Darts Championship will be held from December 15 2023 to January 3 2024 at Alexandra Palace in London.
How to watch the tournament on tv
The World Darts Championship will air on Sky Sports’ dedicated Darts channel with coverage beginning on December 15 and running through to the final in January.
What is the prize money?
As well as the Sid Waddell Trophy, there is £2.5m in prize money on offer for the World Darts Championship with the champion netting £500,000.
The runner-up earns a cool £200,000 while semi-finalist will pocket £100,000 each and those that reach the quarter-finals winning £50,000.
Fourth round and third round losers earn themselves £35,000 and £25,000 respectively while there is £15,000 on offer for the 32 players knocked out in the second round and the 32 first round losers will take away £7,500.
Schedule of Play
Friday 15 December (7pm)
Round One: Kevin Doets vs Stowe Buntz
Round One: Cameron Menzies vs Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Round One: Simon Whitlock vs Paolo Nebrida
Round Two: Michael Smith vs Kevin Doets/Stowe Buntz
Saturday 16 December
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Round One: Lee Evans vs Sandro Eric Sosing
Round One: Connor Scutt vs Krzysztof Kciuk
Round One: Jules van Dongen vs Darren Penhall
Round Two: Dave Chisnall vs Cameron Menzies/Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Evening Session (7pm)
Round One: Jamie Hughes vs David Cameron
Round One: Keane Barry vs Reynaldo Rivera
Round One: Scott Williams vs Haruki Muramatsu
Round Two: Gary Anderson vs Simon Whitlock/Paolo Nebrida
Sunday 17 December
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Round One: Ricky Evans vs Simon Adams
Round One: Jim Williams vs Norman Madhoo
Round One: Matt Campbell vs Lourence Ilagan
Round Two: Joe Cullen vs Jules van Dongen/Darren Penhall
Evening Session (7pm)
Round One: Dylan Slevin vs Florian Hempe
Round One: Niels Zonneveld vs Darren Webster
Round One: Jermaine Wattimena vs Fallon Sherrock
Round Two: Luke Humphries vs Lee Evans/Sandro Eric Sosing
Monday 18 December (7pm)
Round One: Mario Vandenbogaerde vs Thibault Tricole
Round One: Gian van Veen vs Man Lok Leung
Round One: Martin Lukeman vs Haupai Puha
Round Two: Gerwyn Price vs Connor Scutt/Krzysztof Kciuk
Tuesday 19 December
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Round One: Ian White vs Tomoya Goto
Round One: Ritchie Edhouse vs Jeffrey de Graa
Round One: Keegan Brown vs Boris Krcmar
Round Two: James Wade vs Matt Campbell/Lourence Ilagan
Evening Session (7pm)
Round One: Steve Beaton vs Wessel Nijman
Round One: Mike De Decker vs Dragutin Horvat
Round One: Ricardo Pietreczko vs Mikuru Suzuki
Round Two: Michael van Gerwen vs Keane Barry/Reynaldo Rivera
Wednesday 20 December
Afternoon Session (12:30pm)
Round One: Radek Szaganski vs Marko Kantele
Round One: Steve Lennon vs Owen Bates
Round One: William O’Connor vs Bhav Patel
Round Two: Ross Smith vs Niels Zonneveld/Darren Webster
Evening Session (7pm)
Round One: Ryan Joyce vsAlex Spellman
Round One: Richard Veenstra vs Ben Robb
Round One: Christian Kist vs Luke Littler
Round Two: Peter Wright vs Jim Williams/Norman Madhoo
Thursday 21 December
Afternoon Session (12:30pm)
Round One: Mickey Mansell vs Xiaochen Zong
Round One: Luke Woodhouse vs Berry van Peer
Round Two: Madars Razma vs Mike De Decker/Dragutin Horvat
Round Two: Rob Cross vs Mario Vandenbogaerde/Thibault Tricole
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two: Andrew Gilding vs Christian Kist/Luke Littler
Round Two: Danny Noppert vs Scott Williams/Haruki Muramatsu
Round Two: Gabriel Clemens vs Gian van Veen/Man Lok Leung
Round Two: Damon Heta vs Martin Lukeman/Haupai Puha
Friday 22 December
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Round Two: Brendan Dolan vs Mickey Mansell/Xiaochen Zong
Round Two: Jose de Sousa vs Ritchie Edhouse/Jeffrey de Graaf
Round Two: Krzysztof Ratajski vs Jamie Hughes/David Cameron
Round Two: Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Keegan Brown/Boris Krcmar
Evening Session (7pm)
Round Two: Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Dylan Slevin/Florian Hempel
Round Two: Martin Schindler vs Jermaine Wattimena/Fallon Sherrock
Round Two: Raymond van Barneveld vs Radek Szaganski/Marko Kantele
Round Two: Chris Dobey vs William O’Connor/Bhav Patel
Saturday 23 December
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Round Two: Kim Huybrechts vs Richard Veenstra/Ben Robb
Round Two: Callan Rydz vs Ricardo Pietreczko/Mikuru Suzuki
Round Two: Jonny Clayton vs Steve Lennon/Owen Bates
Round Two: Daryl Gurney vs Steve Beaton/Wessel Nijman
Evening Session (7pm)
Round Two: Ryan Searle vs Ian White/Tomoya Goto
Round Two: Josh Rock vs Luke Woodhouse/Berry van Peer
Round Two: Stephen Bunting vs Ryan Joyce/Alex Spellman
Round Two: Nathan Aspinall vs Ricky Evans/Simon Adams
