Luke Littler and Luke Humphries will headline a star-studded World Championship field featuring ‘dark horses’ competing for £500,000 prize
Darts’ hallmark World Championship is fast upon us, and some of the sports biggest names will grace the Ally Pally oche for a place in tungsten royalty. The tournament, which first began in 1994, has become a mainstay on the sporting calendar and the place for all darts players to aspire to reach, giving the PDC tour-card holders the opportunity of a lifetime. Humphries will defend his title with the tournament to get underway imminentlyGetty A sea of colourful-dressed and noisy fans will descend on the Palace this ChristmasGetty There have been 12 winners since the tournament began, and a star-studded field of 96 hugely talented players will be extremely eager to stake their claim at getting their hands on the Sid Waddell trophy. Thousands and thousands of fans will flock to the famous Alexandra Palace, to see crazy walk-ons, colourful fancy dress, epic rivalries and most importantly magic with the arrows. Last year’s tournament produced some thrilling moments along the way, but Luke Humphries navigated the entire field to deliver in an epic final battle with Luke Littler. Littler’s arrival on the scene in his debut tournament as a mere 16-year-old teenager saw the profile of the event grow to unprecedented levels during his run to the final. And a record 4.8 million people tune in as ‘Cool Hand’ ousted ‘The Nuke’ to claim the £500,000 prize, with the sport continuing to grow and grow with every waking minute. But surprisingly it is Littler, who comes into the tournament as the favourite this year given his scintillating form during his first full year on the PDC Tour. He could be thrown straight into the spotlight, as he has been drawn to face the winner of Ryan Meikle or ‘Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock in the opening round. The now 17-year-old will be confident he can win the tournament, but he will need to beat previous conqueror Humphries in the semi-final if the pair progress. Littler was beaten by Humphries in the most recent final at the Players Championship, and will be gunning to get his revenge. He told talkSPORT.com of their rivalry: “Yeah me and Luke Humphries can meet in the semi-final. Littler edged Humphries in a thrilling yet record-breaking final last yearRex “We both have to get through several rounds before getting to that stage. “Then obviously through that to get the final but I’m looking forward to it. “It’s always good to play Luke, we always bring the best out of each other and the fans want to see it. “They are all enjoying watching Luke vs Luke, and that’s what they are getting and could get again.” As for Humphries, he is the man at the helm of the sport ranked as the world No.1 with the target on his back, despite the prominence of the teenage prodigy. The generational talent has been in sizzling form and has already lifted the World Matchplay title in another successful year thus far. He said of his own chances of defending his crown: “Of course I’d be silly as the world No.1 to not back myself. “I know what it takes to do it and I’ve done it. It is hard and in them big moments through the semi-finals and final you have to get through to it. “I think it’s a privilege to be at the top of the spot right now. The sport is going crazy right now. “It’s the goal for me. I’d have to win the worlds to break the £2 million barrier this year. Littler is ranked as the favourite to win the tournament right nowGetty “It’s an exciting time for darts fans and the players as well.” Another central figure at the top of the sport who will certainly be in contention is Michael Van Gerwen. Van Gerwen has not been in his best vein of form this year, but when at his brilliant best is a seriously fearsome prospect and a demon scorer on the board. The Dutch star has been there and done it on stage winning three World Championship titles in 2014, 2017 and 2019. He came so close to lifting the title again in his epic 2023 final with Michael Smith, and has the brilliance and confidence to go all the way. When asked to name a dark horse for the victor of the competition, he even named himself as the under-the-radar character going into the tournament. He told talkSPORT.com: “People honestly see me as a dark horse and don’t expect me to win it. “You have to back yourself though don’t you, if you don’t back yourself or go home. “I’m not playing my best darts at the moment, but I have a lot of good moments on the Ally Pally stage. “It gets more important year on year, but winning them titles has been the best thing and I want to do it again.” Although the three biggest names will be at the fore front of fans’ minds, there is plenty of talent still on offer that could grab the crown. Former world champions Michael Smith, Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price will likely cause a storm and could easily make a deep run in the tournament. Va
Darts’ hallmark World Championship is fast upon us, and some of the sports biggest names will grace the Ally Pally oche for a place in tungsten royalty.
The tournament, which first began in 1994, has become a mainstay on the sporting calendar and the place for all darts players to aspire to reach, giving the PDC tour-card holders the opportunity of a lifetime.
There have been 12 winners since the tournament began, and a star-studded field of 96 hugely talented players will be extremely eager to stake their claim at getting their hands on the Sid Waddell trophy.
Thousands and thousands of fans will flock to the famous Alexandra Palace, to see crazy walk-ons, colourful fancy dress, epic rivalries and most importantly magic with the arrows.
Last year’s tournament produced some thrilling moments along the way, but Luke Humphries navigated the entire field to deliver in an epic final battle with Luke Littler.
Littler’s arrival on the scene in his debut tournament as a mere 16-year-old teenager saw the profile of the event grow to unprecedented levels during his run to the final.
And a record 4.8 million people tune in as ‘Cool Hand’ ousted ‘The Nuke’ to claim the £500,000 prize, with the sport continuing to grow and grow with every waking minute.
But surprisingly it is Littler, who comes into the tournament as the favourite this year given his scintillating form during his first full year on the PDC Tour.
He could be thrown straight into the spotlight, as he has been drawn to face the winner of Ryan Meikle or ‘Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock in the opening round.
The now 17-year-old will be confident he can win the tournament, but he will need to beat previous conqueror Humphries in the semi-final if the pair progress.
Littler was beaten by Humphries in the most recent final at the Players Championship, and will be gunning to get his revenge.
He told talkSPORT.com of their rivalry: “Yeah me and Luke Humphries can meet in the semi-final.
“We both have to get through several rounds before getting to that stage.
“Then obviously through that to get the final but I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s always good to play Luke, we always bring the best out of each other and the fans want to see it.
“They are all enjoying watching Luke vs Luke, and that’s what they are getting and could get again.”
As for Humphries, he is the man at the helm of the sport ranked as the world No.1 with the target on his back, despite the prominence of the teenage prodigy.
The generational talent has been in sizzling form and has already lifted the World Matchplay title in another successful year thus far.
He said of his own chances of defending his crown: “Of course I’d be silly as the world No.1 to not back myself.
“I know what it takes to do it and I’ve done it. It is hard and in them big moments through the semi-finals and final you have to get through to it.
“I think it’s a privilege to be at the top of the spot right now. The sport is going crazy right now.
“It’s the goal for me. I’d have to win the worlds to break the £2 million barrier this year.
“It’s an exciting time for darts fans and the players as well.”
Another central figure at the top of the sport who will certainly be in contention is Michael Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen has not been in his best vein of form this year, but when at his brilliant best is a seriously fearsome prospect and a demon scorer on the board.
The Dutch star has been there and done it on stage winning three World Championship titles in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
He came so close to lifting the title again in his epic 2023 final with Michael Smith, and has the brilliance and confidence to go all the way.
When asked to name a dark horse for the victor of the competition, he even named himself as the under-the-radar character going into the tournament.
He told talkSPORT.com: “People honestly see me as a dark horse and don’t expect me to win it.
“You have to back yourself though don’t you, if you don’t back yourself or go home.
“I’m not playing my best darts at the moment, but I have a lot of good moments on the Ally Pally stage.
“It gets more important year on year, but winning them titles has been the best thing and I want to do it again.”
Although the three biggest names will be at the fore front of fans’ minds, there is plenty of talent still on offer that could grab the crown.
Former world champions Michael Smith, Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price will likely cause a storm and could easily make a deep run in the tournament.
But there is also a new crop of young talent following in Littler’s footsteps right now including Mike De Decker, World Grand Prix winner, and Gian Van Veen who are playing well on tour right now.
Littler who burst through the doors of the Palace last year, believes Van Veen and 24-year-old Wessel Nijman are the two underdogs who could spring a surprise.
“I’ve said Wessel Nijman and Gian Van Veen who picked up the World Youth Championship this year,” he added.
“Watch out for these two young lads, they have been fantastic, I say young they are older than me!”
Van Veen picked up the title in November, and is ranked No.28 and many believe he is the next big star to emerge from Littler’s era.
Meanwhile Nijman won his first senior title at the Players Championship 24 in October, and his high-scoring prowess could be a real threat.
Humphries tends to agree, and believes that big scoring Britons Chris Dobey and Ryan Searle could also be in with a chance.
He concluded: “I’d say Wessel Nijman is the best player outside of the top 32 right now.
“I’d say Gian Van Veen, Chris Dobey who is seeded right now and has the potential, Ryan Searle and Ross Smith are both heavy scorers and have a chance.
“These are the types of players that are very capable and you have to be at such a high level and average to win the tournament.”
There will be of course familiar faces in tour, with the likes of fan favourites Nathan Aspinall, Joe Cullen and Daryl Gurney set to grace the stage with their famous walk-ons.
Darts legend Raymond Van Barneveld will also be in action, with the ‘Barney Army’ set to descend on North London.
The tournament promises to be bigger than ever, and is likely to set records tumbling once again.
Fans and new spectators can expect nine-darters, crazy finishes, back-and-forths on stage, and a whole host of fan interaction.
The PDC World Championship starts on December 15, with the final taking place on January 3.
talkSPORT will have live commentary of all the action across the network throughout the tournament.
PDC World Championship Odds
To win the tournament:
Luke Littler – 2/1
Luke Humphries – 3/1
Gary Anderson – 10/1
Michael van Gerwen – 10/1
Mike De Decker – 25/1
Wesley Nijman – 28/1
Michael Smith – 28/1
Rob Cross – 33/1
Gerwyn Price – 35/1
Darts World Championship Outright Odds
*odds subject to change
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