Five potential PDC World Darts Championship 'dark horses': Could Beau Greaves and Charlie Manby star?

When the lights come back on December 11 at the iconic Alexandra Palace, London will traditionally transform into the beating heart of the darts world. The annual World Darts Championship is not only the biggest tournament of the year, but also the stage where talents break through, legends perish and underdogs make history. This is no different for the 2026 edition. The field of participants is full of remarkable personalities, dangerous outsiders and players with stories to color the tournament.

We selected five names to keep a close eye on this year. Not only because they are in shape, but also because they bring something that can tilt a tournament: bravado, character, talent - or sheer unpredictability.

When Man Lok Leung made his debut at 'Ally Pally' in 2024, it took exactly one match for the darter from Hong Kong to play his way into the hearts of the crowd. His 3-1 victory over Gian van Veen was one of the big surprises of the tournament. The way he did it created even more admiration: tight, explosive and with impressive scoring ability. His eleven (!) maximums in just 22 legs were a calling card that commanded worldwide respect.

It made the disappointment all the greater when Leung narrowly missed out on World Championship qualification a year later. But this year he is back - stronger, more confident and more experienced. Two titles on the Asian Tour and a quarterfinal spot at the World Cup of Darts are clear signs that Leung's development is on the rise. By finishing sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, he finally secured another ticket to the world's biggest stage.

And his return is an immediate trial by fire. On December 12 he will meet Ricky Evans, known as the fastest player on earth. It promises to be a match in which the triples alternate at high speed and where there is no room for doubt. The first night of the World Cup may thus become an instant classic.

Leung brings charm, spectacle and a recognizable style - traits that could make him a crowd favorite once again. Those looking for a cult hero for this World Cup need look no further.

In an era when personal charisma and walk-on shows are more prominent than ever, Adam Lipscombe is an exception. No showman, no big words - but a player who tells his story with his arrows. And that may make him more dangerous than many a high-profile colleague.

At the beginning of the year, the Englishman captured his first PDC Tour Card, after which he secured his spot at the World Cup step by step via the Pro Tour. His £28,500 in prize money put him in 34th place in the World Cup race: just enough to force his debut at Alexandra Palace.

His season peaked early on with the final of Players Championship 7, in which only Gary Anderson kept him from the title. But the moment Lipscombe really stepped into the spotlight was at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead. With victories over Cameron Menzies and Bradley Brooks, he reached the last 16. There he lost only after a dramatic match against Daryl Gurney, in which he missed match darts.

At the World Championship, he will meet Jonny Clayton, on paper a favorite. But this season, Lipscombe has already proven that names do not intimidate him. His style - calm, disciplined and calculating - makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone who is not fully sharp. So Clayton has been warned: Lipscombe is perhaps the tournament's most underrated player.

The dart world is ruled by talents who break through early. Luke Littler set the standard, but behind him is a new crop ready to shake up the sport again. One name stands out above the rest: Charlie Manby.

The 20-year-old Englishman was a talking point early in the season when he posted an insane average of 130.70 on the Development Tour - one of the highest ever recorded within the PDC structure. From that moment on, it was clear that Manby was no average talent.

In 2025, he turned his promise into performance. He won a Development Tour title, reached two semifinals on the Challenge Tour and even stood in a board final on the Pro Tour. His victory in the Champions Week (Series 12) of the Modus Super Series, good for 25,000 pounds, also proved that he can excel even under pressure.

Manby plays with a combination of youthful guts, explosive scores and unprecedented composure for his age. He qualified for the World Championship by finishing fourth on the Development Tour Order of Merit and faces Cameron Menzies in the first round. It will be a clash between inimitable talent and pure experience - a duel that could easily become one of the finest opening matches of the tournament. The question is not whether Manby breaks through, but when. The 2026 World Championship could well be the moment his name is etched permanently in the darts world.

Anyone who thinks the World Championship is all about the men is selling themselves short. For Beau Greaves is much more than just a woman in a men's tournament - she is perhaps one of the most dangerous players in the entire field of participants.

The only 21-year-old player already has a record list that is enviable for many a professional: three-time WDF World Champion, 18 titles in 2025 at the PDC Women's Series and a winning streak of 86 (!) consecutive matches. On top of that, she also recorded victories on both the Development and Challenge Tour.

Her most impressive moment? Undoubtedly the final of the Youth World Cup, in which she defeated Luke Littler in a nerve-wracking encounter - despite the latter recording an average above 107.

At the major tournaments she also showed that she can run with the absolute top. Triple-digit averages against Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson at the Grand Slam of Darts are achievements for which there is no discussion: Greaves belongs on the highest stage.

She qualified for this World Championship by finishing second on the Development Tour Order of Merit and meets Daryl Gurney in the first round. The Northern Irishman knows not to make a misstep, as Greaves is known for her coolness. If she hits her best level, a run to the third, fourth or even fifth round would not be a surprise. Beau Greaves is not a story - she is a phenomenon.

Jermaine Wattimena has been a fixture on the PDC circuit for many years. He played 12 World Championships, booked great results and was known as a fast, explosive player who could always be dangerous. But only in the last two seasons does the Dutchman seem to have found his absolute top form.

It began with his finals appearance at the 2024 European Championships. What followed was a breakthrough year: two Players Championship titles and a semifinal at the Players Championship Finals. Wattimena looks calmer, more confident and, above all, more consistent than ever before.

As world number 19, he is seeded for the World Championship and poses a serious threat to anyone who faces him. His opening match is on Dec. 18 against Dominik Grüllich. If Wattimena wins that match, a route past such greats as Gary Anderson, Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen possibly awaits.

Yet there is one difference from previous years: in 2026, Wattimena is not a clear outsider in any match. He has labeled himself the "most dangerous non-top-16 player," and fully deservedly so.

The 2026 World Darts Championship promises to be a spectacle of unprecedented level. Of course the usual suspects will be present: Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price. But the beauty of the tournament is often in the stories of the surprises, the talents and the players who bring that extra bit of magic to the stage.

Whether it's the explosiveness of Man Lok Leung, the unflappable determination of Adam Lipscombe, the youthful bravado of Charlie Manby, the phenomenal class of Beau Greaves or the reborn vigor of Jermaine Wattimena - these five players could give the World Cup an unexpected twist.