"It’s not about sport. It’s about making money" - Vincent van der Voort lifts lid on darts’ new era before 2026 PDC World Darts Championship

Vincent van der Voort will not be throwing a dart in anger at the Alexandra Palace this year, but he is busier than ever as the sport hurtles into a new, money-fuelled era. Speaking in conversation with Online Darts ahead of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, the Dutchman delivered a blunt verdict on the modern game, warning that prize money, politics and packed calendars are reshaping darts at every level.

"It’s great to still be involved. I’ve got my podcast, I work for Viaplay, so it’s still a busy time," he said, settling into his new role as pundit, shop owner and talent watcher rather than tour regular.

On the face of it, there is plenty to be upbeat about. The World Championship field has been expanded to 128 players and the winner will become the first in the sport’s history to bank a million pounds for a single tournament. Van der Voort did not disguise his sense of amazement at how far the game has come.

"We’re going to witness the first player ever to make a million pounds. It’s mad when you think about it," he told Online Darts. "When I first started playing darts there was no money involved, so to see it become this big is amazing."

That boom is showing up in his own day-to-day life too. As the Worlds approach, his darts shop is flooded with new faces, many of them inspired by Luke Littler and the new generation. "The shop is so busy at the moment. And the age group has changed. It used to be people from 25 to about 55. Now it’s teenagers, even ten-year-olds. They just come in wanting to try everything. It’s amazing to be part of it."

The transformation is not just about more fans and bigger cheques. It is also changing the pressures on the players who built their careers in a very different era.

This World Championship is the first since the new television deal kicked in and the prize fund jumped again. That means players defending money from two years ago can suddenly be leapfrogged by rivals who win fewer matches in the same event. Van der Voort sees a season of ruthless churn coming.

"There’s nowhere to hide," he said. "Even if you had a brilliant year, prize money going up means you could go down even if you only play a little worse. It’s a big year for everyone."

At the same time, some of the sport’s biggest names are already talking about cutting back their Pro Tour schedules, trusting their major results and commercial value to carry them. That has sparked debate about whether the top 16 might one day be guaranteed spots in every TV event. Van der Voort is firmly against that idea.

"Of course it’s a bad thing. You should always have to prove yourself," he said. "If you’re guaranteed everything then the ranking system is wrong. And players think they have a free year. A lot of players thought that after doing well at the Worlds and look where they are now."

He understands why broadcasters and sponsors want the star names on screen, and why the players want to protect their time. But his assessment of the underlying dynamic is brutally simple. "I get the commercial side. The PDC is a commercial company. They want to make money, not run a sport," he said. "It’s not about sport. It’s about making money."

In his view, that commercial pressure will always trump sentiment if the biggest names push back too hard against the schedule. "If Littler, Humphries, Van Gerwen and Price all say they won’t play Pro Tours anymore, they’ll change the system," he warned. "Because without big names in the Finals, ITV won’t want to broadcast it anymore. Simple as that."

For all the politics, Van der Voort still sees the oche itself as the ultimate leveller. He believes the seedings change for this year’s Worlds, with everyone starting in round one, is a step in the right direction.

"Yeah, like it should be. Nobody should be protected," he said. "You have to show why you’re a seed, and normally you don’t meet each other in the early rounds. This is very good."

It also ramps up the psychological strain. "There’s always a player nobody wants to lose to before Christmas. Normally there was one round of pressure, now there are two. Nobody wants to sit at Christmas dinner thinking, ‘I’m out.’"

On the board, he still sees Luke Littler and Luke Humphries as the men to beat, but he does not want the rest of the field beaten in their heads before they get to the stage. "It’s no problem if he wins everything, as long as players don’t roll over," he said of Littler. "He is that good. Nobody can dispute that."

Van der Voort has had a close view of the teenager in the practice room and came away impressed by the way he handles the spotlight. "I’ve seen him play in the practice room and he’s so relaxed. It’s frightening that someone that age is that good. It seems like he doesn’t feel pressure. Of course he does, but he handles it incredibly well."

The question now is how long Littler’s hunger survives the success and the huge prize money. "The other thing is how long he stays hungry," Van der Voort said. "If he wins this one, then next year, and the year after that, you’ve won three million pounds. Sometimes the hunger goes. As long as he stays hungry he’ll be tough to beat."

He is also convinced Humphries has the game to topple Littler on the right night. "At the Grand Slam he was the best player all week, but still didn’t win the final," Van der Voort noted. "He has to show it at the right moment."

Beyond the headline acts, Van der Voort is excited by what he has seen coming through the system. Working with Winmau, he has spent time scouting at youth events across Europe. "I’ve been to Gibraltar and Budapest to watch youth players for Winmau," he said. "There’s some amazing talent at 14 or 15. Doesn’t mean they’ll all make it, but they’re hungry. You have to keep that hunger."

No Dutch interview about the Worlds is complete without Michael van Gerwen. Van der Voort has shared exhibition stages and practice boards with him in recent months and believes the three time world champion is in a better place than he was a year ago.

"Better than last year, 100 percent," he said. "Last year he lost in the Grand Slam groups and in the first round of the Players Championship Finals. He didn’t know what darts to use, what weight, the grip, everything was a mystery. I think he’s good now."

The doubt, in Van der Voort’s eyes, is not about raw ability. It is about whether Van Gerwen has the match sharpness and stamina for the long set play battles at Ally Pally. "We need to see how good he is in longer formats because he hasn’t played enough matches. He needs the early rounds to build that up," he said. "You have to be good for two hours. I don’t know if he has that in him right now. Maybe this year is too soon. We’ll have to wait and see."

He also pointed out that Van Gerwen cannot afford another flat season, given how rankings and prize money will move in 2026. "He knows if he has another year like this one he won’t be in the top 16 anymore, maybe not even the top 25," Van der Voort said. "He knows there’s a lot of work to do and what he needs to do. Most of the time that’s when he’s at his best."

Even away from the World Championship, Van der Voort was critical of high profile players skipping key ranking events. He highlighted Van Gerwen’s absence from last season’s Players Championship Finals as a warning sign. "Michael didn’t last year, and by his standards that’s really bad. He should be in that tournament," he said.

From the outside looking in, Vincent van der Voort sees a sport that has never been richer, younger or more watched, but also one that has never been more ruthlessly shaped by finance and scheduling.

"We’re going to witness the first player ever to make a million pounds," he said. "It’s not about sport. It’s about making money."

Between Littler’s dominance, Humphries’ threat, Van Gerwen’s pivotal season and a queue of hungry teenagers flooding his shop and the youth tours, Van der Voort’s verdict before the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship is clear. The opportunity has never been greater, but neither has the pressure. In an era of million pound champions and shifting calendars, nobody, as he puts it, will have anywhere to hide.