PDC World Darts Championship Opens With Record Prize Fund
The 2025 PDC World Darts Championship begins on December 15 at Alexandra Palace in London, with 96 players competing for the Sid Waddell Trophy and a record £2.5 million total prize fund, as the sport’s biggest tournament returns for its traditional festive showcase.
The championship, which runs until January 3, brings together the world’s top-ranked professionals and international qualifiers, with the winner set to receive £500,000, underlining the event’s growing global profile.
Expanded Field and Packed Schedule
This year’s edition features an expanded 96-player draw, with early rounds spread across multiple evening and afternoon sessions at Ally Pally. Matches are played in a knockout format, with sets increasing in length as the tournament progresses.
The opening round sees seeded players protected until later stages, while unseeded competitors battle through best-of-five set matches to earn a place against the elite.
“This championship is the heartbeat of professional darts,” said PDC chairman Eddie Hearn in remarks shared ahead of the tournament. “Every year the standard rises, and this field reflects just how competitive the sport has become.”
Prize Money Reflects Sport’s Growth
The total prize fund of £2.5 million represents the highest in tournament history, with players earning prize money from the first round onwards. Even first-round losers are guaranteed a payout, highlighting darts’ continued commercial growth.
Defending champion Luke Humphries, who lifted the trophy last January, believes the financial stakes add another layer of intensity.
“The pressure is massive, but that’s what makes this event special,” Humphries said. “Everyone knows what’s on the line when you walk onto that stage.”
Former Champions and New Challengers
Several former world champions, including Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright, are among the contenders, while a new generation of players arrive hoping to disrupt the established order.
Tournament organisers expect sold-out crowds throughout the competition, with the Alexandra Palace atmosphere once again central to the spectacle.
“You don’t get an environment like this anywhere else,” said former world champion Gary Anderson. “If you can handle Ally Pally, you can handle anything in darts.”
All Eyes on Alexandra Palace
The PDC World Darts Championship remains the sport’s most watched and celebrated event, regularly attracting millions of viewers worldwide during the holiday period.
With increased prize money, a deeper field and global attention firmly fixed on London, the 2025 edition promises drama, pressure and potentially a new name etched onto the Sid Waddell Trophy.