From Paul Lim to Peter Wright: these are the ten oldest darts veterans at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship

The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship has a field of participants in which the new generation is making its presence felt more and more emphatically, but in which there is also a remarkably strong group of seasoned players.

These players with a minimum age of 54 have once again qualified for the most important tournament of the year. They are darters who began their careers in a completely different generation, but who share one similarity: their game is still good enough to compete on the sport's biggest stage.

Paul Lim is once again the oldest participant in the World Championship. The 71-year-old Singaporean remains an exception in the professional darts world. His placement proves that experience in this sport lasts longer than in virtually any other discipline. Lim has nothing more to prove, but his presence remains a story in itself. 'The Singapore Slinger' made history in 1990 by becoming the first - and still the only - darter to throw a nine-darter at Lakeside. During the 2018 World Darts Championship, he almost managed to do so again, but this time at Alexandra Palace. However, Lim then missed the double 12 to throw a perfect leg in his match against Gary Anderson.

This cunning fox is back at the World Darts Championship after a two-year absence. It was also only four years ago that Mervyn King surprisingly managed to reach the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace. However, after the 2024 season, 'The King' lost his PDC Tour Card, and failed to regain it at the Q-School. The Englishman competed on the Challenge Tour this season and performed so well that he managed to secure a World Championship ticket via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

A milestone five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld has at least reached with his placement for the World Darts Championship, as it is the 33rd time in his career that 'Barney' will compete for the world title. In doing so, he equals Steve Beaton's World Championship record. A favourite for the world title is the Dutch darts legend for a long time, but on a good day Van Barneveld can make it difficult for anyone. Two years ago 'Barney' made it to the last sixteen in Ally Pally. His draw at least offers perspective to get that far again.

Few darters are as recognisable as Simon Whitlock, also characterized by sporadic watching darts fans as the guy with the ponytail and long goatee. 'The Wizard' played his first World Championship back in 2003, and has been in every year from the 2010 edition to the 2024 edition. In 2010, Whitlock made it to the final, but lost to Phil Taylor. Last year Whitlock dazzled by absence, but thanks to his final victory in the ANZ Premier League, the Australian darts icon managed to secure a return to Alexandra Palace.

David Cameron achieved his international breakthrough relatively late, but has since commanded a permanent spot. The 56-year-old Canadian only played his first World Championship in 2014, but his upcoming participation will already be his 11th World Championship. Almost every time, Cameron was eliminated in his first match, but when he participated in the 2023 World Championship, 'Excalibur' managed to make it to the second round. In 2022, Cameron also achieved notable success on the senior circuit by defeating Phil Taylor in the final of the World Seniors Darts Masters.

Peter Wright is a different player these days from the two-time world champion who dominated tournaments. The 55-year-old Scot is less steady, but remains dangerous once the triples fall. His routines, looks and colourful presentation remain part of his identity, only that "Snakebite" throws a lot less consistently than before. Wright still has the ability to peak on a big stage, though less predictably than in his prime years. Last year Wright caused a sensational surprise by knocking defending champion Luke Humphries out of the tournament. In doing so, he proved that you should never discount Wright.

Ian White has always been a player who performed better on the floor than on television, but the 55-year-old Englishman is almost always a regular at the World Darts Championship. Only two years ago did 'The Diamond' miss the World Championship, which almost cost him his Tour Card. For the dart player from Stoke-on-Trent it will be his fifteenth World Championship. He reached his peak at the 2014 edition, when White managed to reach the quarter-finals.

Like his North American darts colleague David Cameron, Leonard Gates is another player who has only blossomed in late life. The 55-year-old American will be at Alexandra Palace for the third time in four years. In his previous two participations, "The Soulger" managed to survive the first round each time. Gates is mainly active on the North American circuit, where he has won many titles. In 2022 he became champion of North America, while in 2024 Gates added the prestigious CDC Continental Cup to his record.

Lisa Ashton entered the history books in 2020 as the first woman to win a PDC Tour Card through the Q-School. Her performance at the Women's Series also allowed her to compete at the World Darts Championship four times, twice coming close to pulling off a maiden win. Against both Adam Hunt (3-2) and Ryan Meikle (3-2), the four-time Women's World Champion fell one set short of reaching the second round in North London. This year, Ashton gets her fifth chance to try for a surprise at the PDC World Championships. Although "The Lancashire Rose" has been surpassed by Beau Greaves these days, Ashton showed earlier this year that she can still be a dangerous player on her day. After all, she managed to win the Women's World Matchplay in July.

With his way of throwing a striking appearance on the darts circuit, but Andrew Gilding only became a cult hero when in 2023, to the surprise of everyone, he won the UK Open title by defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final. Since winning this title, Gilding has been consistently ranked in the subtop of darts, although his 34th spot in the world rankings seems to have taken its toll. Last year, the 54-year-old Englishman achieved his best result at the World Darts Championship by reaching the third round. This year, Gilding is competing in the World Championships for the seventh time in his career. Only once did the former guitarist in a church band fail to get past the first round in Ally Pally.