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The PDC has revealed changes to the World Darts Championship format, with seeds to play an extra round in an expanded field to include at least four women.
The 2025/26 World Darts Championship will see a record-breaking 128-player field vying to lift the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy, with a total prize fund of £5m on offer – £1m as the top prize.
In a change from previous years, all players will enter the tournament at the first round stage, with 32 seeded players and players ranked 33-64 drawn at random into the left hand side of the draw against the remaining 64 qualifiers.
“The expansion of the tournament will provide players from the PDC’s global affiliate tours and secondary tours with further opportunities to compete on the sport’s biggest stage,” a statement released on Tuesday read.
“This will include a minimum of four women in the 128-player field.”
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Highlights of Luke Littler against Michael van Gerwen in the final of the World Darts Championship
The top 40 players from the PDC Order of Merit following November’s Players Championship Finals will qualify automatically, including reigning champion Luke Littler.
World No 1 Luke Humphries will also headline at Alexandra Palace, alongside three-time champion Michael van Gerwen – the runner-up to Littler last January.
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Highlights of Northern Ireland against Wales in the World Cup of Darts final
The top 40 non-qualified players from the ProTour Order of Merit will also feature in this year’s extravaganza, with the remaining 48 places set to be allocated to International Qualifiers.
The 2025/26 World Darts Championship will begin in December before culminating in January, with further information to be confirmed in due course.
What’s the next darts event on Sky Sports?
The highlight of the darting summer will see the Betfred World Matchplay held from July 19-27 at the Winter Gardens, as Luke Humphries bids to retain the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy, with world champion Luke Littler and three-time winner Michael van Gerwen also set to headline the £800,000 event across nine days.
Sunday July 27 will also feature the fourth staging of the Betfred Women’s World Matchplay, featuring eight players competing across one session – with Beau Greaves having won the 2023 and 2024 events.
Sky Sports will once again be the home of the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and more! Stream darts and more top sport with NOW
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