Anticipation is building for the 2025 World Darts Championship, set to commence on December 15, 2024, at the iconic Alexandra Palace (often referred to as Ally Pally) in London. This year marks the championship’s 32nd installment, promising plenty of excitement as the world's top darts players gather to compete for the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy and a hefty prize pool totaling £2.5 million.
This year also sees some remarkable changes, including the largest participant pool yet, with 96 players taking the stage, up from the traditional 64. Notably, the championship will be welcoming 14 debutants—including Switzerland's Stefan Bellmont and Rashad Sweeting from the Bahamas—who are poised to make their mark on this grand stage.
Among the established contenders, title defender Luke Humphries will aim to retain his crown after last year’s victory over the rising star and crowd favorite Luke Littler. The young Englishman continues to capture the spotlight and break records, becoming one of the most talked-about players heading back to the Ally Pally for the championship.
Littler, known as "The Nuke," is not just making headlines for his talent. Last year, at just 16 years old, he reached the final against Humphries, drawing 3.7 million viewers on Sky and sparking the phenomenal ‘Littler Mania’ across social media platforms. He has since signed lucrative endorsement deals, including his own branded darts board, and is viewed as not just another contender, but potentially the very future of darts.
Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens are set to represent Germany on this grand stage. Schindler, noted for his Scoring prowess, recently captured attention with his remarkable performances. Marijanovic has pointed out, "Für beide ist viel möglich!" emphasizing the potential for both players to surprise through the rounds.
The championship will take place over nearly three weeks, consisting of several rounds of knockout-style play, culminating with the final looming on January 3, 2025. The games will operate under classics such as the best of five sets for early rounds, building up to the best of 13 sets for the final—a configuration sure to thrill fans and raise the stakes for competitors.
This year’s tournament format has also sparked conversation surrounding inclusion, with Noa-Lynn van Leuven expected to make history as the first trans woman to participate. Van Leuven qualified through the Women’s Series and adds another layer of narrative during this year’s championship.
Another layer of intrigue is introduced with the participation of multiple international players, making this championship not just about the British players, but representing various nations. The lineup features competitors from the likes of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan, and even as far across the globe as India and the Bahamas.
Six German players will be competing, the largest representation for Germany to date, with all eyes on the group to see how they will fare. Each match is expected to draw significant attention as fans rally behind their favorite players, creating electric atmospheres throughout the championship.
The tournament reflects the rising popularity of darts as not just a sport, but as entertainment. With events selling out quickly and broadcasters offering extensive coverage—including 135 hours live on Sport1 and streaming options via DAZN—the 2025 Darts Championship promises to be more accessible than ever.
So mark your calendars and prepare for what’s sure to be another incredible chapter in the world of darts. Amidst predictions and speculations, one thing remains certain: Ally Pally will serve as the definitive headquarters of excitement, competition, and legendary moments. Can Littler rise to the occasion? Will Humphries defend his title? Or will one of the debutants stun the crowd? The darts are ready, and it’s game on!