The 2024/25 World Darts Championship, held at the iconic Alexandra Palace in North London, concluded its initial two rounds with a record-breaking 14 seeded players eliminated, including prominent names like Gary Anderson, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, and Dave Chisnall. This dramatic start set the stage for an exciting tournament culminating in Luke Humphries’ victory over teenage sensation Luke Littler, securing his first World No. 1 ranking and etching his name in darts history. The final, a captivating duel between the two Lukes, saw Humphries overcome a 4-2 deficit to claim the title with a 7-4 scoreline. The previous year’s tournament had already set new records with 914 maximum 180 scores, translating to a £1 million charitable donation, adding further anticipation to this year’s event. Players like Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, and Michael van Gerwen progressed to the third round, resuming on December 27th.
The tournament, spanning from December 15th, 2024, to January 3rd, 2025, features afternoon sessions commencing at 12:30 pm GMT and evening sessions at 7 pm GMT, with a break from December 24th to 26th. Live coverage is available on Sky Sports in the UK, with streaming options on NOW TV and PDC.tv. International viewers can access the matches through various broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay. SunSport provides comprehensive coverage via a live blog, keeping fans updated on every match and development.
The tournament format begins with best-of-five-set matches in the first and second rounds, progressively increasing to best-of-seven, best-of-nine, and best-of-eleven in subsequent rounds. The final culminates in a best-of-thirteen-set showdown. The top 32 ranked players receive automatic qualification to the second round.
A historical overview of the PDC World Darts Championship winners, excluding the pre-PDC and BDO champions, showcases Phil Taylor’s dominance with a staggering 14 titles. Michael van Gerwen follows with three titles, while several players, including John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, and Peter Wright, have each secured two championships. A single title victory is shared among Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, and the latest champion, Luke Humphries.
The detailed schedule from the first two rounds reveals the progression of players through the tournament. The first round witnessed several upsets and close matches, setting a dynamic tone for the competition. The second round further solidified the positions of contenders like Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, and Luke Humphries while demonstrating the increasing competitiveness of emerging players.
The tournament continues with the third round beginning on December 27th, featuring exciting matchups between established players and rising stars. The subsequent rounds promise heightened intensity as the field narrows down to the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and the final on January 3rd. The World Darts Championship continues to be a highly anticipated event in the sporting calendar, attracting a global audience with its captivating drama and world-class competition. The current tournament’s early rounds have already provided a strong indication of the excitement and potential for further upsets in the rounds to come.
