The WDF World Championship will take place at the home of World Darts in the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green between 28th November - 7 December 2025. It will see Shane McGuirk as the defending champion. While Beau Greaves is not being involved means there will be a new winner.
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Among the top names in either draw at Lakeside include Jimmy van Schie, Neil Duff, Jason Brandon in the men's. While in the women's, it includes Deta Hedman, Mikuru Suzuki, World Master Lorraine Hyde and Rhian O'Sullivan.
It has been held at Lakeside under the WDF banner for the past three years with Duff, Andy Baetens and McGuirk being the champions. In the women's, it's been solely Beau Greaves until this year. She goes onto pastures new in the PDC.
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Schedule WDF World Championship Lakeside
Friday 28 November - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 28/11 18:00:00 | Men's - R1 | Dennis Nilsson | v | Shane Sakchekapo | (86.68) 3-0 (84.35) |
| 28/11 18:45 | Men's - R1 | Alex Williams | v | Romeo Grbavac | (82.91) 3-2 (81.92) |
| 28/11 19:30 | Ladies - Pre Lim | Mayumi Ouch | v | Nina Lech-Musialska | (56.88) 0-2 (64.10) |
| 28/11 20:15 | Men's - R1 | Cliff Prior | v | Clint Clarkson | (83.18) 0-3 (78.58) |
| 28/11 21:00 | Men's - R1 | Kevin Luke | v | Sybren Gijbels | (82.82) 2-3 (83.27) |
| 28/11 21:45 | Men's - R1 | Vince Tipple | v | Haruki Muramatsu | (76.10) 1-3 (85.10) |
| 28/11 23:00 | Men's - R1 | Shane McGuirk | v | Petri Rasmus | (91.52) 3-1 (87.53) |
Saturday 29 November - Afternoon Session (12:30 GMT)
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| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 29/11 12:30 | Men's - R1 | Caleb Hope | v | Darren Johnson | (78) 3-0 (83.62) |
| 29/11 13:15 | Ladies - R1 | Joanne Hadley | v | Eve Watson | (64.52) 0-2 (78.20) |
| 29/11 14:00 | Men's - R1 | Ben Robb | v | Johan Engstrom | (91.56) 3-1 (89.41) |
| 29/11 14:45 | Ladies - R1 | Jitka Cisarova | v | Maud Jansson | (78.20) 2-0 (64.52) |
| 29/11 15:30 | Men's - R2 | James Beeton | v | Dennis Nilsson | (79.41) 3-2 (81.09) |
Saturday 29 November - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 29/11 18:00 | Men's - R1 | Ryan Hogarth | v | Jonas Masalin | (85.45) 1-3 (89.22) |
| 29/11 18:45 | Ladies - R1 | Kirsi Viinikainen | v | Mikuru Suzuki | (74.31) 0-2 (73.99) |
| 29/11 19:30 | Men's - R1 | Karl Schaefer | v | Daniel Bauerdick | (73.26) 2-3 (74.89) |
| 29/11 20:15 | Ladies - R1 | Irina Armstrong | v | Maria Carli | (70.10) 1-2 (69.62) |
| 29/11 21:00 | Men's - R1 | Brian Raman | v | Jeffrey Sparidaans | (85.69) 2-3 (86.44) |
| 29/11 21:45 | Men's - R2 | Jimmy van Schie | v | Alex Williams | (87.93) 3-0 (81.91) |
Sunday 30 November - Afternoon Session (12:30 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 29/11 12:30 | Men's - R1 | Marko Kantele | v | Dalibor Smolik | (81.29) 1-3 (85.67 |
| 29/11 13:15 | Ladies - R1 | Priscilla Steenbergen | v | Nina Lech-Musialska | (69.59) 2-0 (68.93) |
| 29/11 14:00 | Men's - R1 | Jim McEwan | v | Stephen Rosney | (84.15) 0-3 (84.81) |
| 29/11 14:45 | Ladies - R1 | Paula Murphy | v | Emine Dursun | (61.83) 0-2 (73.43) |
| 29/11 15:30 | Men's - R2 | Liam Maendl-Lawrance | v | Caleb Hope | (86.02) 0-3 (85.41) |
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Sunday 30 November - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 30/11 18:00 | Men's - R1 | Jenson Walker | v | Jiri Brejcha | (84.04) 3-0 (76.81) |
| 30/11 18:45 | Ladies - R1 | Aletta Wajer | v | Aaja Jalbert | (74.05) 2-0 (69.37) |
| 30/11 19:30 | Men's - R1 | Bradley Kirk | v | Jeff Springer Jr | (82.48) 1-3 (82.45) |
| 30/11 20:15 | Ladies - R1 | Paige Pauling | v | Lisa Zollikofer | (69.87) 2-0 (66.40) |
| 30/11 21:00 | Men's - R1 | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Tomoya Maruyama | (90.46) 3-0 (84.35) |
| 30/11 21:45 | Men's - R2 | Stefan Schroder | v | Shane McGuirk | (84.05) 1-3 (91.43) |
Monday 1 December - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 01/12 18:00 | Men's - R2 | Paul Krohne | v | Dalibor Smolik | (85.11) 3-1 (86.39) |
| 01/12 18:45 | Ladies - R2 | Nicole Regnaud | v | Maria Carli | (66.27) 0-2 (63.19) |
| 01/12 19:30 | Men's - R2 | Raymond Smith | v | Clint Clarkson | (90.14) 3-0 (81.65) |
| 01/12 20:15 | Men's - R2 | Corne Groeneveld | v | Jonas Masalin | (89.03) 2-3 (87.39) |
| 01/12 21:00 | Ladies - R2 | Lerena Rietbergen | v | Aletta Wajer | (71.41) 2-1 (69.19) |
| 01/12 21:45 | Men's - R2 | Neil Duff | v | Ben Robb | (87.39) 1-3 (96.29) |
Tuesday 2 December - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
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| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 02/12 18:00 | Men's - R2 | Benjamin Pratnemer | v | Daniel Bauerdick | (82.66) 3-0 (78.42) |
| 02/12 18:45 | Ladies - R2 | Lorraine Hyde | v | Emine Dursun | (73.10) 2-1 (70.80) |
| 02/12 19:30 | Men's - R2 | Francois Schweyen | v | Jeffrey Spaaridans | (84.16) 3-2 (82.66) |
| 02/12 20:15 | Men's - R2 | Matt Clark | v | Haruki Muramatsu | (85.48) 3-1 (79.32) |
| 02/12 21:00 | Ladies - R2 | Tracy Feiertag | v | Priscilla Steenbergen | (61.35) 0-2 (69.56) |
| 02/12 21:45 | Men's - R2 | Marcus Maier | v | Sybren Gijbrels | (70.63) 1-3 (80.74) |
Wednesday 3 December - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 03/12 18:00 | Men's - R2 | Thomas Junghans | v | Stephen Rosney | (79.18) 0-3 (89.65) |
| 03/12 18:45 | Ladies - R2 | Sophie McKinlay | v | Paige Pauling | (69.67) 2-1 (67.33) |
| 03/12 19:30 | Men's - R2 | Andy Davidson | v | Jeff Springer Jr | Springer receives bye |
| 03/12 20:15 | Men's - R2 | David Fatum | v | Jenson Walker | (73.51) 1-3 (78.24) |
| 03/12 21:00 | Ladies - R2 | Deta Hedman | v | Mikuru Suzuki | (76.19) 2-1 (77.52) |
| 03/12 21:45 | Men's - R2 | Jason Brandon | v | Mitchell Lawrie | (89.55) 0-3 (97.21) |
Thursday 4 December - Afternoon Session (12:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 04/12 18:00 | Men's - R3 | Jimmy van Schie | v | Paul Krohne | (95.84) 3-1 (86.24) |
| 04/12 18:45 | Boys - QF | Kaya Baysal | v | Thees Kogelnik | (80.29) 2-1 (73.33) |
| 04/12 19:30 | Men's - R3 | Ben Robb | v | Stephen Rosney | (91.72) 3-0 (82.95) |
| 04/12 20:15 | Ladies - R2 | Rhian O'Sullivan | v | Jitka Cisarova | (77.74) 2-0 (63.79) |
| 04/12 21:00 | Men's - R3 | Jenson Walker | v | Raymond Smith | (92.70) 3-1 (89.74) |
| 04/12 21:45 | Men's - R3 | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Jeff Springer Jr | (93.06) 3-0 (78.48) |
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Thursday 4 December - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 04/12 18:00 | Men's - R3 | Jimmy van Schie | v | Paul Krohne | (95.84) 3-1 (86.24) |
| 04/12 18:45 | Boys - QF | Kaya Baysal | v | Thees Kogelnik | (80.29) 2-1 (73.33) |
| 04/12 19:30 | Men's - R3 | Ben Robb | v | Stephen Rosney | (91.72) 3-0 (82.95) |
| 04/12 20:15 | Ladies - R2 | Rhian O'Sullivan | v | Jitka Cisarova | (77.74) 2-0 (63.79) |
| 04/12 21:00 | Men's - R3 | Jenson Walker | v | Raymond Smith | (92.70) 3-1 (89.74) |
| 04/12 21:45 | Men's - R3 | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Jeff Springer Jr | (93.06) 3-0 (78.48) |
Friday 5 December - Afternoon Session (12:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 05/12 12:00 | Men's - QF | James Beeton | v | Sybren Gijbels | (82.75) 1-4 (86) |
| 05/12 13:00 | Ladies - QF | Lorraine Hyde | v | Priscilla Steenbergen | (71.39) 1-3 (72.39) |
| 05/12 14:00 | Ladies - QF | Deta Hedman | v | Sophie McKinlay | (69.39) 3-0 (74.9) |
| 05/12 15:00 | Boys - QF | Mason Teese | v | Benedek Szabo | (75.95) 2-1 (70.9) |
| 05/12 16:00 | Men's - QF | Ben Robb | v | Jenson Walker | (82.51) 2-4 (83.35) |
Friday 5 December - Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
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| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 05/12 18:00 | Ladies - QF | Lerena Rietbergen | v | Eve Watson | (69.52) 3-0 (66.26) |
| 05/12 19:00 | Boys - QF | Florian Preis | v | Archie Self | (87.91) 2-0 (88.50) |
| 05/12 20:00 | Men's - QF | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Francois Schweyen | (92.06) 4-0 (84.65) |
| 05/12 21:00 | Ladies - QF | Maria Carli | v | Rhian O'Sullivan | (61.09) 1-3 (68.86) |
| 05/12 22:00 | Men's - QF | Jimmy van Schie | v | Shane McGuirk | (97.36) 4-1 (95.26) |
Saturday 6 December - Afternoon Session (12:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 06/12 12:00 | Boys - SF | Florian Preis | v | Mason Teese | (85.43) 3-2 (76.37) |
| 06/12 12:45 | Ladies - SF | Priscilla Steenbergen | v | Deta Hedman | (73.78) 1-3 (82.24) |
| 06/12 13:30 | Girls - SF | Ruby Grey | v | Rebecca Allen | (58.92) 0-2 (66.25) |
| 06/12 15:00 | Men's - SF | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Jenson Walker | (96.33) 5-2 (93.62) |
Saturday 6 December - Evening Session (17:30 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 06/12 17:30 | Ladies - SF | Lerena Rietbergen | v | Rhian O'Sullivan | (73.86) 3-2 (75.81) |
| 06/12 18:15 | Boys - SF | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Kaya Baysal | (91.91) 3-0 (88.25) |
| 06/12 19:00 | Girls - SF | Paige Pauling | v | Zehra Gemi | (71.05) 1-2 (71.41) |
| 06/12 20:30 | Men's - SF | Jimmy van Schie | v | Sybren Gijbels | (93.07) 5-1 (85.97) |
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Sunday 7 December - Afternoon Session (14:00 GMT)
| Date/Time | Cat/Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result | |
| 07/12 14:00 | Boys - Final | Mitchell Lawrie | v | Florian Preis | (89.35) 4-2 (88.45) |
| 07/12 14:45 | Girls - Final | Zehra Gemi | v | Rebecca Allen | (77.07) 3-0 (65.54) |
| 07/12 15:30 | Ladies - Final | Lerena Rietbergen | v | Deta Hedman | (70.07) 1-4 (72.01) |
| 07/12 17:00 | Men's - Final | Jimmy van Schie | v | Mitchell Lawrie | (93.21) 6-3 (93.18) |
Men's WDF World Championship 2025 draw at Lakeside
| Seed | Player | Opponent(s) |
| 1 | Jimmy van Schie (NED) | Alex Williams (WAL) / Romeo Grbavac (CRO) |
| 16 | Paul Krohne (GER) | Marko Kantele (FIN) / Dalibor Smolik (CZE) |
| 8 | Corne Groeneveld (NED) | Ryan Hogarth (SCO) / Jonas Masalin (FIN) |
| 9 | Stefan Schroder (NED) | Shane McGuirk (IRE) / Petri Rasmus (FIN) |
| 4 | James Beeton (ENG) | Dennis Nilsson (SWE) / Shane Sakchekapo (CAN) |
| 13 | Liam Maendl-Lawrance (GER) | Caleb Hope (NZL) / Darren Johnson (ENG) |
| 5 | Benjamin Pratnemer (SLO) | Karl Schaefer (AUS) / Daniel Bauerdick (GER) |
| 12 | David Pallett (ENG) | Kevin Luke (USA) / Sybren Gijbrils (CRO) |
| 2 | Jason Brandon (USA) | Mitchell Lawrie (SCO) / Tomoya Maruyama (JPN) |
| 15 | Andy Davidson (SCO) | Bradley Kirk (ENG) / Jeff Springer Jr (USA) |
| 7 | Matt Clark (ENG) | Vince Tipple (ENG) / Haruki Muramatsu (JPN) |
| 10 | Francois Schweyen (BEL) | Brian Raman (BEL) / Jeffrey Sparidaans (NED) |
| 3 | Neil Duff (NI) | Ben Robb (NZL) / Johan Engstrom (SWE) |
| 14 | Thomas Junghans (SWI) | Jim McEwan (SCO) / Stephen Rosney (IRE) |
| 6 | David Fatum (USA) | Jenson Walker (ENG) / Jiri Brejcha (CZE) |
| 11 | Raymond Smith (AUS) | Cliff Prior (ENG) / Clint Clarkson (CAN) |
Draw WDF Lakeside Women's World Championship 2025
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| Seed | Player | Opponent(s) |
| 1 | Lerena Rietbergen (NED) | Aletta Wajer / Aaja Jalbert |
| 8 | Aileen de Graaf (NED) | Joanne Hadley / Eve Watson |
| 4 | Nicole Regnaud (NZL) | Irina Armstrong / Maria Carli |
| 5 | Rhian O'Sullivan (WAL) | Jitka Cisarova / Maud Jansson |
| 2 | Lorraine Hyde (SCO) | Paula Murphy / Emine Dursun |
| 7 | Tracy Feiertag (USA) | Priscilla Steenbergen / Mayumi Ouchi or Nina-Lech Musialska* (subject to play-off) |
| 3 | Deta Hedman (ENG) | Kirsi Viinikainen / Mikuru Suzuki |
| 6 | Sophie McKinlay (SCO) | Paige Pauling / Lisa Zollikofer |
Predictions
Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com sees a youngest World Championship winner and a surprise women's winner.
I believe Jason Brandon, Jimmy van Schie will be among the top names in the men's. But I see a sensation in Mitchell Lawrie sealing the win. A lot of pressure on the young lad but I see him rising to it.
Also see Raymond Smith being up there. He seems to be picking Lakeside over the PDC World Darts Championship where he could still play but he is getting weekly experience in the ANZ Premier League.
He should be up there. While never count out the likes of Neil Duff in sealing the title as well as the defending champion Shane McGuirk.
*** Mitchell Lawrie
** Raymond Smith, Jimmy van Schie
* Jason Brandon, Shane McGuirk, Neil Duff
In the women's tournament, I see Nicole Regnaud sealing the title. She has often showed she has the level on the Lakeside stage and has dominated the tour back home in New Zealand for a long time.
I think it's an uphill struggle for Deta Hedman and also Mikuru Suzuki or Kirsi Viinikainen. All are in the same tie so at least two will go early. Rhian O'Sullivan has been back on form as of late so could still figure. But I see a new champion and that being the Kiwi ace.
*** Nicole Regnaud
** Rhian O'Sullivan, Deta Hedman
* Lerena Rietbergen, Lorraine Hyde, Sophie McKinaly
Lucas Michael, Editor for DartsNews.com picks Jimmy van Schie and a returning former World Champion for glory.
The WDF World Championship is upon us, and with it a very competitive field. It is hard to single one champion out, but for me it is Jimmy van Schie who will taste glory. The tall Dutchman has enjoyed a fabulous year not just on the WDF Circuit, where he most recently won the World Masters, but also has started to integrate himself in the PDC, having reached a quarter-final in a Pro Tour event.
In that Masters final he defeated the number two seed Jason Brandon, and quite comfortably. The American will be looking for redemption. Prior to that, he tasted glory in Hungary, showing the class he possesses. If he can overcome some inconsistency and find his best game, he will be a firm challenger for the title.
The 2022 champion should also not go without having a mention. Neil Duff has won four titles this year on the WDF Circuit. The Northern Irishman is a firm fixture in the running for the title. Along with him is the current winner, Shane McGuirk. Winning a week on the MODUS Super Series, he proves that the quality is still there for another title. I will also have my eye on Raymond Smith who has been excelling in the ANZ Premier League. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate that form abroad from his native Australia.
*** Jimmy van Schie
** Neil Duff, Jason Brandon
* Raymond Smith, Shane McGuirk, James Beeton
On the women’s side, there is a large crater left by the absence of Beau Greaves. This is a huge positive for the rest of the field who in turn can sense a chance at glory. In my personal opinion, it is a straight shoot out between the number one seed Lerena Rietbergen and Mikuru Suzuki. While the Dutch star has clinched a hugely impressive six titles this season, I am going to back the two-time world champion Suzuki to produce the goods once more.
‘Baby Shark’ will be blasted around the Lakeside Country Club as Suzuki takes to the stage. Whether that will put her opponent off I do not know, but I do know that when stepping to the oche at a World Championship, she is the one to beat. She has added three titles to her collection this year and looks to be edging back to her best. The stumbling block is that her first opponent is the dangerous Kirsi Viinikainen. She has accumulated six titles this year and almost earned a ticket for Ally Pally. Six titles on the WDF Circuit shows she knows how to win.
Outside of these three, Deta Hedman will be once again looking to challenge the best. Despite a decorated career, she cannot call herself a world champion having failed to get past the semi-final stage four times. Pair of Scots, Lorraine Hyde and Sophie McKinlay, could also force themselves in within a chance of success. However, the way I seeing it pan out Suzuki will also defeat her with these tough games under her belt giving the Japanese icon an edge as the tournament prolongs.
*** Mikuru Suzuki
** Lerena Rietbergen, Kirsi Viinikainen
* Deta Hedman, Lorraine Hyde, Sophie McKinlay
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While Pieter Verbeek, Head Editor for DartsNieuws.com sees a similar outcome in Frimley Green.
As the clear tournament favourite, all eyes will be on Jimmy van Schie. The Dutchman has been leading the WDF world rankings for quite some time and added several titles to his name again this year. Van Schie is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world without a PDC Tour Card, which also gives him the opportunity to chase this prestigious WDF title.
Among his main rivals are defending champion Shane McGuirk and 15-year-old prodigy Mitchell Lawrie. Despite his young age, Lawrie has already made a big impression on the WDF circuit this season, picking up three senior titles. Another emerging name to watch is 19-year-old Jenson Walker, who has also shown his potential in the MODUS Super Series. Other strong contenders include Raymond Smith and Brian Raman.
*** Jimmy van Schie
** Shane McGuirk, Mitchell Lawrie
* Jenson Walker, Raymond Smith, Brian Raman
The women’s tournament looks far more open than in previous years. Three-time champion Beau Greaves has opted to skip Lakeside in favour of competing at the PDC World Championship, while other leading names such as Fallon Sherrock, Lisa Ashton, and Lorraine Winstanley are also absent.
Their absence opens the door for several new contenders. Mikuru Suzuki, already a two-time Lakeside champion, heads to Frimley Green as the favourite for another title. Lerena Rietbergen, a semi-finalist last year, will fancy her chances again, while Rhian O’Sullivan is another name to watch. The Welsh star caused a stir earlier this year by winning the Dutch Open, and she’s also among the most consistent performers on the PDC Women’s Series. Finally, Aileen de Graaf, Lorraine Hyde, and Deta Hedman can all be considered dangerous outsiders.
*** Mikuru Suzuki
** Lerena Rietbergen, Rhian O'Sullivan
* Aileen de Graaf, Lorraine Hyde, Deta Hedman
Oliver Ried, Editor for DartsNews.DE sees a different champion in both draws.
For me, we’re about to see the first-ever German World Champion in darts. Paul Krohne is currently performing at an exceptional level in every tournament, and the only way to stop him is by playing outstanding darts yourself. Just look at the Super League – you practically need to average 102 points to beat Paul Krohne. His explosiveness is incredible, and his timing is equally impressive. Since voluntarily giving up his Tour Card earlier this year, his game has improved even further.
Right behind him, I see Jimmy van Schie. It’s a mystery to me how this man has been without a Tour Card for two years. The tall Dutchman consistently posts high averages whenever he plays. He’s a regular standout performer in the Modus Super Series and always impresses. And we can’t forget the defending champion, Shane McGuirk. The Irishman hasn’t quite reached the heights of his 2024 WDF World Championship campaign, but if he finds that form again, I can easily see him challenging for the title once more.
Among the other top contenders, I would include Neill Duff. The Northern Irishman has been playing strong, consistent darts this year, which is why he’s seeded third. Another name to watch is Raymond Smith. The Australian impressed at the PDC World Championship and continues to perform strongly in the ANZ Premier League. Mitchell Lawrie is currently in outstanding form. The 15-year-old has had a fantastic few weeks, winning an incredible number of titles in the WDF men’s events. I’m curious to see if he can reproduce that level at the World Championship — if he can, he’s got a real shot at winning the title.
*** Paul Krohne
** Jimmy van Schie, Shane McGuirk
*Neil Duff, Mitchell Lawrie, Raymond Smith
With the absentees of Beau Greaves in the women’s event, the title at Lakeside feels completely open. Still, I see Lerena Rietbergen as the favorite. The Dutchwoman is having an excellent season with several titles and rightfully holds the number one seed. A world title would be the perfect next step in her career.
However, Kirsi Viinikainen and Mikuru Suzuki are both more than capable of lifting the trophy as well. Viinikainen has impressed on the Women’s Series this year and narrowly missed out on a PDC World Championship ticket. Suzuki, on the other hand, is a two-time world champion and knows exactly what it takes to win. The problem? They face each other in the first round. Whoever wins that match could go all the way.
Deta Hedman is a living legend of the sport. The Englishwoman brings a wealth of experience and is still chasing her first Lakeside title. She will face the winner of Viinikainen vs. Suzuki – what a draw! Also worth keeping an eye on is Paige Pauling, the young sensation who showed last year why she should always be considered a contender. And finally, Irina Armstrong: Germany’s number one female player has enjoyed a strong 2025 season and already impressed earlier this month in Budapest.
*** Lerena Rietbergen
** Mikuru Suzuki, Kirsi Viinikainen
*Deta Hedman, Paige Pauling, Irina Armstrong
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026