I won first TV title as 250/1 underdog and now I’m attempting to scoop £500,000 darts prize
Ritchie Edhouse has had a scarcely believable year in darts, but he wants to top it all off at this year’s World Championship. Edhouse has made four previous appearances at the showpiece event at Alexandra Palace, failing to go beyond the second round between 2020 and 2024. Edhouse has had a fantastic yearGetty His darts have gone under the radar but 2024 has been a breakout year for the British underdog, who has recorded his biggest achievements so far in his career during the year. His success on the European tour began when he reached the quarter final stage of the 2024 International Darts Open. But his name catapulted into the spotlight as he took the 2024 European Championship by storm. He kicked off the tournament with a stunning demolition job of Gian Van Veen, before beating Michael Smith and Gary Anderson on an incredible route to the final. Prior to a dart being thrown, Edhouse was a 250/1 underdog to lift the trophy but incredibly he did just that. Edhouse demolished Jermaine Wattimena 11-3 in an incredible final display to seal the deal, and claim the £120,000 prize in Dortmund. His brilliant form has continued in the year, and he is now ranked in the top 30 heading into the hallmark Ally Pally tournament, which will be live across the talkSPORT network from 15 December. As he prepares for his latest huge opportunity to grace the oche, Edhouse can barely believe how the year has gone. “I’ve been playing well and steady all year,” he told talkSPORT.com when raising awareness for Paddy Power’s The Big 180 campaign. “I was suffering on my doubles going into that run at that tournament. GettyEdhouse won the European Championship against all odds[/caption] “But at that tournament the confidence came, I beat the likes of Gary and Michael, it was a weekend which was a dream come true. “I wouldn’t have believed it would have happened how it has. I’ve always believed I could win a tournament. “But this year has been fantastic for me. Everything has just fallen into my lap, we’ve had some good runs and a bit of luck.” Edhouse is now ranked 29th in the world and as a result, will enter the second round of the 2025 World Championship. He will face the winner of Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing on December 22 to get his campaign underway after the draw was cast. Victory in that contest would likely set up a mouth-watering showdown with teenage prodigy Luke Littler in the third round. Edhouse is no stranger to the World Championship stageGetty Where to buy Luke Littler's darts range *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95. Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website. Highlights include: Luke Littler brass 22g steel tip darts, £14.95 – buy here Luke Littler playing shirt, £39.95 – buy here Luke Littler 90% tungsten G1 SP darts, £99.95 – buy here Takoma Luke Litter wallet, £16.95 – buy here Luke Littler cabinet and dartboard with two sets of darts, £69.95 – buy here Once again, Edhouse is ranked as a huge underdog with many pricing him as far out as a 250/1 underdog to win the tournament. But the 43-year-old is confident in his own game and is planning a deep run, and a real shot at the £500,000 jackpot for clinching the Sid Waddell Trophy. “If I win my first one and get past Luke [Littler] then I can really get going,” he continued. “Yeah, the first one is always nervy, then I have to get past one of the best players in the world. “But after that I can plod along, start to relax a bit and certainly we can see what happens.” On the prospect of facing sporting sensation Littler, he concluded: “You just have to put the hard work in. Edhouse could come up against Littler on his route to the finalGetty “He doesn’t average much less than 110, so you really need to put the hours in. “It’s over in the blink of an eye against him, it feels like there is magnets on his darts. He is phenomenal, so it will be a tough test as always.” Edhouse will join a huge field of talent who are gunning for the huge prize money, which is the most available at a single tournament on the darting calendar. ‘Madhouse’ has already picked up £281,750 in prize money according to the PDC Order Of Merit and is eyeing a continuation of his positive form on the biggest of stages. Paddy Power will donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored during the tournament. This year, the Bigger 180 offers a colossal £180,000 bonus every time a player nails a nine-darter. The £180,000 bonus will be split equally between Prostate Cancer UK, the player who throws the perfect leg, and one lucky fan in the iconic Ally Pally c
Ritchie Edhouse has had a scarcely believable year in darts, but he wants to top it all off at this year’s World Championship.
Edhouse has made four previous appearances at the showpiece event at Alexandra Palace, failing to go beyond the second round between 2020 and 2024.
His darts have gone under the radar but 2024 has been a breakout year for the British underdog, who has recorded his biggest achievements so far in his career during the year.
His success on the European tour began when he reached the quarter final stage of the 2024 International Darts Open.
But his name catapulted into the spotlight as he took the 2024 European Championship by storm.
He kicked off the tournament with a stunning demolition job of Gian Van Veen, before beating Michael Smith and Gary Anderson on an incredible route to the final.
Prior to a dart being thrown, Edhouse was a 250/1 underdog to lift the trophy but incredibly he did just that.
Edhouse demolished Jermaine Wattimena 11-3 in an incredible final display to seal the deal, and claim the £120,000 prize in Dortmund.
His brilliant form has continued in the year, and he is now ranked in the top 30 heading into the hallmark Ally Pally tournament, which will be live across the talkSPORT network from 15 December.
As he prepares for his latest huge opportunity to grace the oche, Edhouse can barely believe how the year has gone.
“I’ve been playing well and steady all year,” he told talkSPORT.com when raising awareness for Paddy Power’s The Big 180 campaign.
“I was suffering on my doubles going into that run at that tournament.
“But at that tournament the confidence came, I beat the likes of Gary and Michael, it was a weekend which was a dream come true.
“I wouldn’t have believed it would have happened how it has. I’ve always believed I could win a tournament.
“But this year has been fantastic for me. Everything has just fallen into my lap, we’ve had some good runs and a bit of luck.”
Edhouse is now ranked 29th in the world and as a result, will enter the second round of the 2025 World Championship.
He will face the winner of Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing on December 22 to get his campaign underway after the draw was cast.
Victory in that contest would likely set up a mouth-watering showdown with teenage prodigy Luke Littler in the third round.
Where to buy Luke Littler's darts range
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95.
Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website.
Highlights include:
Once again, Edhouse is ranked as a huge underdog with many pricing him as far out as a 250/1 underdog to win the tournament.
But the 43-year-old is confident in his own game and is planning a deep run, and a real shot at the £500,000 jackpot for clinching the Sid Waddell Trophy.
“If I win my first one and get past Luke [Littler] then I can really get going,” he continued.
“Yeah, the first one is always nervy, then I have to get past one of the best players in the world.
“But after that I can plod along, start to relax a bit and certainly we can see what happens.”
On the prospect of facing sporting sensation Littler, he concluded: “You just have to put the hard work in.
“He doesn’t average much less than 110, so you really need to put the hours in.
“It’s over in the blink of an eye against him, it feels like there is magnets on his darts. He is phenomenal, so it will be a tough test as always.”
Edhouse will join a huge field of talent who are gunning for the huge prize money, which is the most available at a single tournament on the darting calendar.
‘Madhouse’ has already picked up £281,750 in prize money according to the PDC Order Of Merit and is eyeing a continuation of his positive form on the biggest of stages.
Paddy Power will donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored during the tournament. This year, the Bigger 180 offers a colossal £180,000 bonus every time a player nails a nine-darter.
The £180,000 bonus will be split equally between Prostate Cancer UK, the player who throws the perfect leg, and one lucky fan in the iconic Ally Pally crowd.
Paddy Power and Prostate Cancer UK aims to inspire at least 180,000 men to take the lifesaving risk checker this year. Early action saves lives – don’t wait, get your risk checked here.
