When does the PDC World Darts Championship start in 2025 and where is Ally Pally Darts?
FAQThursday, 04 December 2025 at 11:16
It's the darting mecca where dreams are made and others are broken. But as the qualification criteria have now been set, we take a look at where Ally Pally Darts is and when the PDC World Darts Championship starts.
Luke Littler scooped the title last year seeing off Michael van Gerwen in the final and the teenage prodigy will return in 2025/26 to attempt to retain that title.
It is also a World Championship unlike any other and will now be played for £1million first prize.
Here is all the info you need to know about the PDC World Darts Championship.
1. Where is Ally Pally Darts
2. When does the PDC World Darts Championship start?
3. Overview of other PDC World Darts Championships
4. How to get to Ally Pally
5. How to get tickets for Ally Pally
6. How much prize money up for grabs at Ally Pally
7. Where to watch PDC World Darts Championship live?
8. Who has hit a nine-dart finish at PDC World Darts Championship
9. Which players have won the PDC World Darts Championship?
10. What is the format at PDC World Darts Championship?
1. Where is Ally Pally Darts
2. When does the PDC World Darts Championship start?
3. Overview of other PDC World Darts Championships
4. How to get to Ally Pally
5. How to get tickets for Ally Pally
6. How much prize money up for grabs at Ally Pally
7. Where to watch PDC World Darts Championship live?
8. Who has hit a nine-dart finish at PDC World Darts Championship
9. Which players have won the PDC World Darts Championship?
10. What is the format at PDC World Darts Championship?
1. Where is Ally Pally Darts
Also known as Ally Pally, the PDC World Darts Championship takes place in North London. Adjacent to its own train station, the Alexandra Palace is also serviced by Wood Green tube station.
It is also used year-round for gigs and other such events, as well as an ice rink. Accessible through public transport, it also includes the infamous steep hill up to the top. It is also adjacent to Crouch End and Muswell Hill.
2. When does the PDC World Darts Championship Start
It will take place between 11 December 2025 - 3 January 2026 with the first round starting earlier this year with also the usual Christmas break between 24-27 December.
They plan to expand to 128 players in 2025/26 with qualification criteria set. Ordinarily it begins the second week of December and continues until just after New Year with a break for Christmas and also New Year's Eve.
3. Overview of other World Darts Championships
There is also the WDF World Darts Championship, which takes place at the other traditional home of world dart,s the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green. That takes place between 28 November - 7 December, 2025.
It was previously known as the BDO World Championship which was held at the Lakeside prior to the WDF taking over proceedings. Albeit with a sojourn into the Indigo at the O2 before the BDO's untimely demises at the hands of final chairman Des Jacklin.
In addition, the World Seniors acted as another route for players in their 50's such as Steve Beaton, Simon Whitlock, Mervyn King among others post their PDC careers or trying to still get back onto thet our to play in that big stage environment.
Tournaments in particular at the old home of World Darts, the Circus Tavern for their World Darts Championship in the February of every year as well as World Masters, World Matchplay and Champion of Champions give opportunities away from the main tour.
Initially featuring such players as Phil Taylor, Martin Adams, Robert Thornton among others, it was brought with great fanfare but Jason Francis who also runs the snooker version.
So in essence, there are three at least in one year with the main PDC one in the December, the WDF in November and then World Seniors in late February. Albeit that has since changed with the World Seniors being folded earlier this year. So as a result there are only two World Championships currently and whether the Seniors repops up remains to be seen.
Lakeside for instance and Circus Tavern were previous homes of the World Darts Championship, the latter in the PDC. But both have since moved to their current home in North London.
In addition, PDC players are banned from playing the WDF edition. Beau Greaves for instance as World Champion in the WDF has qualified multiple times for Ally Pally but has had to make the decision to play Lakeside or Ally Pally until this year.
This rule was erased for a year during the WDF's opening tournament in 2023 but soon a rule was put in place in order to keep PDC players who aren't Tour Card holders from pursuing both systems.
4. How to get to Ally Pally?
To get to Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally), the quickest way is by train from Moorgate or King’s Cross to Alexandra Palace station, followed by a short uphill walk. Alternatively, take the Piccadilly Line to Wood Green and either walk (15 minutes) or catch the W3 bus directly to the venue.
The W3 also runs from Finsbury Park. Driving takes around 25 minutes from Central London, with limited paid parking available on-site so it is much more useful to use public transport. After events, expect crowds at stations, but late-night trains and night buses like the N43 and N134 provide return options.
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This means that fans from all parts of the UK can get to the home of world darts for the entertainment that Ally Pally produces.
5. How to get tickets for Ally Pally?
Tickets went on sale for this year's tournament (2025/26) earlier in July and flew out this year. It is now a more finite chance than ever due to the rise of the sport. Ordinarily it goes on sale through multiple different windows.
Like other PDC tournaments, PDCTV Annual Subscribers get first dibs to tickets in a special purchase window before it then goes onto different sales such as mailing list. From there if any tickets are left it goes onto General Sale.
Ordinarily the tickets get released after the World Matchplay. To get access through the annual member scheme, it costs £49.99 a year which also includes access to the entertainment.
The PDC has revealed changes to the World Darts Championship format, with seeds to play an extra round in an expanded field to include at least four women 🚨
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) June 17, 2025
The 2025/26 World Darts Championship will see a record-breaking 128-player field vying to lift the iconic Sid Waddell… pic.twitter.com/jzK2OpFPIr
6. How much prize money up for grabs at Ally Pally
The Prize Money Breakdown has been confirmed with £1million will be on offer for the winner. The Prize Money will increase across the board.
This is due to 128 players now being at Ally Pally. Seeds will have to play an extra round and while there will be £1million for the winner, it will presumably go up at least double across the board from the total prize fund of £2,500,000 last year.
| Stage | Prize Money (£) |
| Winner | 1,000,000 |
| Runner-Up | 400,000 |
| Semi-Finalists (2) | 200,000 |
| Quarter-Finalists (4) | 100,000 |
| Last 16 losers (8) | 60,000 |
| Last 32 losers (16) | 35,000 |
| Last 64 losers (32) | 25,000 |
| Last 128 losers (64) | 15,000 |
| Total | 5,000,000 |
7. Where to watch PDC World Darts Championship live?
The PDC World Darts Championship is usually shown in the UK on Sky Sports with a dedicated Sky Sports Darts Channel conceived in order to show Ally Pally on which is only for this tournament.
It is also shown on their Main Event channels for specific sessions e.g the final. Sky Sports have recently just signed a bumper until 2030 after much competition to keep hold of the rights after this year.
But they signed a mooted £125m deal to keep it. The following countries use these respective broadcast partners.
| Broadcaster | Regions / Countries Covered |
| Sky Sports | UK and Ireland |
| Viaplay | Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria & Baltic States |
| DAZN | Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
| Sport1 | Germany |
| Fox Sports | Australia |
| Sky | New Zealand |
| Nova | Czech Republic & Slovakia |
| Prago Sport | Hungary |
| VTM | Belgium |
All major TV tournaments are broadcast live online outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland through PDCTV. Highlights from this tournament are also available in PDCTV for all subscribers worldwide.
8. Who has hit a nine-dart finish at PDC World Darts Championship
Sixteen nine-dart finishes have been hit at the PDC World Darts Championship. The first being in 2009 and two in World finals. Firstly Adrian Lewis in 2011 followed by Michael Smith in 2023. Below are all the nine-darters in PDC World Darts Championship history.
| Number | Player | Year (+ Round) | Method | Opponent | Result |
| 1. | Raymond van Barneveld | 2009, Quarter-Final | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Jelle Klaasen | Won |
| 2. | Raymond van Barneveld | 2010, 2nd Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Brendan Dolan | Won |
| 3. | Adrian Lewis | 2011, Final | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Gary Anderson | Won |
| 4. | Dean Winstanley | 2013, 2nd Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Vincent van der Voort | Lost |
| 5. | Michael van Gerwen | 2013, Semi-Final | 3 x T20; 2 x T20, T19; 2 x T20, D12 | James Wade | Won |
| 6. | Terry Jenkins | 2014, 1st Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Per Laursen | Lost |
| 7. | Kyle Anderson | 2014, 1st Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Ian White | Lost |
| 8. | Adrian Lewis | 2015, 3rd Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Raymond van Barneveld | Lost |
| 9. | Gary Anderson | 2016, Semi-Final | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Jelle Klaasen | Won |
| 10. | James Wade | 2021, 3rd Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Stephen Bunting | Lost |
| 11. | William Borland | 2022, 1st Round | 3 x T20; 2 x T20, T19; 2 x T20, D12 | Bradley Brooks | Won |
| 12. | Darius Labanauskas | 2022, 1st Round | T20, 2 x T19; 3 x T20; T20, T17, D18 | Mike De Decker | Lost |
| 13. | Gerwyn Price | 2022, Quarter-Final | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T19, T20, D12 | Michael Smith | Lost |
| 14. | Michael Smith | 2023, Final | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Michael van Gerwen | Won |
| 15. | Christian Kist | 2025, 1st Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Madars Razma | Lost |
| 16. | Damon Heta | 2025, 3rd Round | 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T19, D12 | Luke Woodhouse | Lost |
9. Which players have won the PDC World Darts Championship?
While elsewhere, other World Championships count to the total in the PDC it is Phil Taylor who is unlikely to ever be beaten. He sits on 14 (16 in all). Michael van Gerwen is next with three while only John Part (2003 & 2008), Adrian Lewis (2011 & 2012), Gary Anderson (2015 & 2016) and Peter Wright (2020 & 2022) have won it more than once also.
Raymond van Barneveld for instance is a five-time World Champion but only one of those has come in the PDC Back in 2007. Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries and current champion Luke Littler are the only other winners and those are one and done as of right now. Albeit all are still active.
| Year | Champion (Average) | Score | Runner-up (Average) |
| 1994 | Dennis Priestley (94.38) | 6–1 | Phil Taylor (85.62) |
| 1995 | Phil Taylor (94.11) | 6–2 | Rod Harrington (87.15) |
| 1996 | Phil Taylor (98.52) | 6–4 | Dennis Priestley (101.48) |
| 1997 | Phil Taylor (100.92) | 6–3 | Dennis Priestley (96.78) |
| 1998 | Phil Taylor (103.98) | 6–0 | Dennis Priestley (90.75) |
| 1999 | Phil Taylor (97.11) | 6–2 | Peter Manley (93.63) |
| 2000 | Phil Taylor (94.42) | 7–3 | Dennis Priestley (91.80) |
| 2001 | Phil Taylor (107.46) | 7–0 | John Part (92.58) |
| 2002 | Phil Taylor (98.47) | 7–0 | Peter Manley (91.35) |
| 2003 | John Part (96.87) | 7–6 | Phil Taylor (99.98) |
| 2004 | Phil Taylor (96.03) | 7–6 | Kevin Painter (90.48) |
| 2005 | Phil Taylor (96.14) | 7–4 | Mark Dudbridge (90.66) |
| 2006 | Phil Taylor (106.74) | 7–0 | Peter Manley (91.72) |
| 2007 | Raymond van Barneveld (100.93) | 7–6 | Phil Taylor (100.86) |
| 2008 | John Part (92.86) | 7–2 | Kirk Shepherd (85.10) |
| 2009 | Phil Taylor (110.94) | 7–1 | Raymond van Barneveld (101.18) |
| 2010 | Phil Taylor (104.38) | 7–3 | Simon Whitlock (100.51) |
| 2011 | Adrian Lewis (99.40) | 7–5 | Gary Anderson (99.41) |
| 2012 | Adrian Lewis (93.06) | 7–3 | Andy Hamilton (90.83) |
| 2013 | Phil Taylor (103.04) | 7–4 | Michael van Gerwen (100.66) |
| 2014 | Michael van Gerwen (100.10) | 7–4 | Peter Wright (95.71) |
| 2015 | Gary Anderson (97.68) | 7–6 | Phil Taylor (100.69) |
| 2016 | Gary Anderson (99.26) | 7–5 | Adrian Lewis (100.23) |
| 2017 | Michael van Gerwen (108.06) | 7–3 | Gary Anderson (104.93) |
| 2018 | Rob Cross (107.67) | 7–2 | Phil Taylor (102.26) |
| 2019 | Michael van Gerwen (102.21) | 7–3 | Michael Smith (95.29) |
| 2020 | Peter Wright (102.79) | 7–3 | Michael van Gerwen (102.88) |
| 2021 | Gerwyn Price (100.08) | 7–3 | Gary Anderson (94.25) |
| 2022 | Peter Wright (98.34) | 7–5 | Michael Smith (99.22) |
| 2023 | Michael Smith (100.71) | 7–4 | Michael van Gerwen (99.58) |
| 2024 | Luke Humphries (103.67) | 7–4 | Luke Littler (101.13) |
| 2025 | Luke Littler (102.73) | 7-3 | Michael van Gerwen (100.69) |
10. What is the format at the PDC World Darts Championship?
The format isn't 100% set in stone for the 2025 edition with seeded players forced to play an extra round with it now moving to 128 players. But whether it remains as it has set wise remains to be seen.
In past years, the first two rounds have seen players aiming to reach three sets with best of five being the name of the game. Best of 7 is until the Quarter-Finals where we reach best of 9. The semi-finals are best of 11 sets and the final is best of 13 sets which means the winner has to seal seven sets to scoop the title.
To win a set, players need to win three legs. Deciding sets mean that players must win by a two-leg margin and if the score in a deciding set reaches 5-5, a sudden death leg is played to crown a winner.
| Round | Format | Sets Required to Win |
| First Round | Best of 5 sets | 3 sets |
| Second Round | Best of 5 sets | 3 sets |
| Third Round | Best of 7 sets | 4 sets |
| Fourth Round | Best of 7 sets | 4 sets |
| Quarter-Finals | Best of 9 sets | 5 sets |
| Semi-Finals | Best of 11 sets | 6 sets |
| Final | Best of 13 sets | 7 sets |
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