On June 17, 2025, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) announced a major overhaul for the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, expanding the field to 128 players and introducing a Wimbledon-style draw where all competitors, including top seeds like reigning champion Luke Littler, start from the first round. Previously, the top 32 players entered at the second round in a 96-player format. Now, players must win seven matches to claim the Sid Waddell Trophy and a doubled £1 million prize, up from £500,000, with the total prize fund rising to £5 million, per Express.
New Format Details
The tournament, running from December 2025 to January 2026 at Alexandra Palace, mirrors Wimbledon’s tennis Grand Slam structure. The top 32 players, seeded based on the PDC Order of Merit post-Players Championship Finals, are drawn against players ranked 33–64 and 64 international qualifiers on the draw’s left side, ensuring top seeds avoid early clashes, per The Irish Sun. This change means Littler, the 18-year-old world No. 2 who won the 2025 title aged 17, faces a longer path to defend his crown, per GB News. At least four women will compete, up from two, including the PDC Women’s World Matchplay and Women’s Series winners, per Sky Sports.
Qualification and Impact
The top 40 players from the PDC Order of Merit, including Littler, Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen, automatically qualify. The next 40 come from the ProTour Order of Merit, with 48 spots for international qualifiers, such as the PDC World Youth Champion and regional tour winners from Australia, Asia, and Africa, per Express. PDC chief Matt Porter called the £1 million prize a reflection of darts’ global surge, fueled by Littler’s rise, per The Mirror. X posts, like @SunSport, noted Littler’s challenge to navigate the new format for the jackpot, per
Littler’s Context and Reaction
Littler, dubbed “The Nuke,” became the youngest PDC champion in January 2025, defeating van Gerwen 7-3, and has won 10 titles in 2024, including the Premier League and Grand Slam, per BBC Sport. No direct quotes from Littler on the format change were reported, but his 2025 performance—averaging over 100 in five matches and hitting 76 180s—suggests resilience, per Sky Sports. The expanded field offers more opportunities for global players but raises the stakes for favorites, per @Rob_Maul
