The Darts Championship Overview

The Cazoo World Darts Championship this year is held between 15 December 2022 and 3 January 2023. It takes place at the famous Alexandra Palace—nicknamed Ally Pally—where the world’s top darts players will face off against each other. With a prize fund of £2,500,000, it’s the biggest tournament of the darts season which can crown the absolute winner for this year.

While darts doesn’t get the same attention as football, it’s certainly a great sport form a sports betting perspective. Online betting explodes before and during the Darts Championship every year since it’s the big stage with the top players. Think of it as a Champions League for the best darts players. It’s bound to get plenty of sports betting attention, and in this article, we’ll cover the major favorites.

After a couple of years without audience, the Darts Championship lives and breathes once again. It’s a major draw for fans of the sport and bettors too, who are eager to see how their favorites will perform. Half a million pounds from the prize pool will go to the winner, with a special £100,000 jackpot added on top. It was introduced by the tournament’s sponsors. Half of that money will go to the winner, while the remainder is split between a lucky winner from the public and Cancer Research UK.

This new addition received support from many players, including 2021 Gerwyn Price who called it a “great initiative”. It shows that the sport is more than just big money prizes.

Of course, the main draw for the players isn’t just the money. The Sid Waddell trophy shines bright, with many contenders for the Darts Championship throne. With a field of 96 players, there will be plenty of competition, but only the best throwers can claim the trophy and take it home. 

Which are the favorites? Let’s check them out below.

The Dutchman makes a return to the tournament after sitting the last one out with a positive coronavirus test. Widely hailed as the best darts player ever, he’s almost unplayable when on song. van Gerwen was a beast this year, winning four trophies ahead of the PDC Darts Championship and returning to top form. He’s the best player of his generation, and a very tough match for anyone.

Before the tournament began, media have repeatedly said that van Gerwen should have won more titles so far in his career. At 33 years old, he has only three. In comparison, the legendary Phi Taylor is first on that list with 14 trophies. van Gerwen shook those negative comments and comparisons off. “As long as I’m playing and winning tournaments, those World Championships will come. I have nothing to prove”. He certainly has a point.

Michael van Gerwen is the best player of his generation and it’s not even close. If there’s one player that can catch up with Phil Taylor, it must be him. He’s the youngest player to win the PDC Darts World Championship and holds a few other records as well. As of mid-2022, he’s the record holder of PDC Pro Tour events, having won 84 so far. Unlike football or basketball players, darts players tend to play much longer. Mighty Mike is only 33, and his career will continue for many years to come.

He has admitted that being a favorite for this year’s tournament makes him a big target. However, he’s also warned his opponents that there’s only more to come from him, so he’s undoubtedly the biggest trophy favorite.

Michael Smith is an exception player, but one without a major PDC World Championship title. 2022 has been a great year for Smith, who reached the Darts Championship final last year, losing to Peter Wright. This year, he finally won a major PDC title in his ninth attempt, beating Nathan Aspinall in the Grand Slam of Darts final.

After reaching the PDC Darts Championship final last year, it’s clear that Smith has a lot to prove. Bookies have him as one of the top three favorites, and it’s no wonder considering that he can beat anyone. In 2021, he beat van Gerwen at the Grand Slam of Darts to reach the semifinal. His 2023 Darts Championship campaign should be one to watch, so if you’re betting on the tournament, keep an eye on the Englishman.

The Iceman is the world’s current number 1, so he’s an automatic add to this list. However, he also has the credentials for it. Price won the PDC Darts Championship in 2021, becoming the first Welshman to do so. He has also won several televised darts events, particularly the 2020 World Series of Darts and the World Grand Prix the same year.

After bowing out in the quarter finals last year, Price will have a lot to prove in this one. As the world’s top player, his chances are great, but so is the competition. Still, sportsbooks have him as one of the top favorites, and we believe he’s a lock too.

We’ve finally reached the defending champ himself – Peter “Snakebite” Wright. Known for his extravagant looks, the Scotsman is by no means a pushover. He’s proven his worth time and time again, and compared to his rivals, he has more experience too at 52 years old. But, age is just a number, and you can’t tell that he’s over 50 by looking at Wright.

One of the best players of all time, he’s a two-time world champion, winning the Darts Championship in 2020 and 2022. He’s also won the World Matchplay tournament. His flamboyant stage persona and performance are a beauty to watch. It’s safe to say that he breathes new life into the sport and gives it a much-needed shake-up.

Is it a surprise to see the defending champ ranked high as a favorite. Not at all. Wright has the mettle to play against anyone, and has defeated big champs before. His win last year against Michael Smith wasn’t a surprise, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him lift the third trophy come January 3.