The 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship is taking centre-stage once again this festive period as Luke Littler defends his title.The 18-year-old demolished Michael van Gerwen 7-3 at Alexandra Palace to make history as the youngest winner ever in the last edition.Littler overcame his final heartbreak from the year before to blow everyone awayAFP In the end, there was no stopping The Nuke, who blasted his way to victory to claim £500,000 after defending champion Luke Humphries had been knocked out by Peter Wright.And Littler is back to defend his crown and looking to become just the fourth player in history to win back-to-back World Championships.There is a record prize fund up for grabs this time, with the winner’s pot doubling to £1million.This is the first time in history that a darts tournament will hand out seven figures to the victor as the popularity of the sport continues to grow.PDC World Championship 2025/26: Dates and how to followThis year’s PDC World Darts Championship got underway on Thursday, December 11, and will run to the final on Saturday, January 3.The whole thing is being held at the iconic Alexandra Palace in north London.talkSPORT will have full live coverage of the darts this Christmas with our commentary team of Ian Danter, Mark Wilson, Paul Nicholson and Chris Mason.To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream or find us on DAB digital radio through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.Download and listen to all our live commentaries via the talkSPORT app here.Visit talkSPORT BET for all the latest odds and bet boosts for every big event.Subscribe to our YouTube channel here for news, views and analysis plus our regular goals show and for more, follow us on talkSPORT Facebook and talkSPORT X.Sky Sports will show every match as well.Humphries will be hoping to mount a serious challenge this yearGettyPDC World Championship 2025/26: Tournament formatThe draw for the World Darts Championship was made on November 24.There were a total of 128 players at the start, and there are seven rounds until the final.The top 40 from the PDC Order of Merit qualified with another 40 from the PDC Tour Order of Merit, and 48 more international qualifiers.All matches are played as single in, double out – requiring players to score 501 points to win a leg, finishing on either a double or the bullseye.For all rounds except the first, the deciding set has to be won by two clear legs unless the set score goes to 5–5, in which case a sudden-death leg will be played. There will be no throw for the bull in any sudden-death legs.The matches get longer as the tournament progresses, with the first and second rounds being best of five and working up to the final which will be best of 13.Top 20 SeedsLuke Littler Luke HumphriesMichael van Gerwen (fourth round)Stephen Bunting (third round)Jonny ClaytonDanny Noppert (second round)James Wade (second round)Chris Dobey (second round)Gerwyn Price (second round)Gian van VeenJosh Rock (fourth round)Ross Smith (first round)Martin Schindler (third round)Gary AndersonNathan Aspinall (third round)Damon Heta (third round)Rob Cross (fourth round)Mike De Decker (first round)Jermaine Wattimena (third round)Ryan Searle (ENG)Van Gerwen was dismantled in the final by LittlerGettyPDC World Championship 2025/26: Full schedule and resultsRound 1Thursday, December 11Kim Huybrechts 1-3 Arno MerkMichael Smith 3-0 Lisa AshtonLuke Littler 3-0 Darius LabanauskasMadars Razma 3-1 Jamai van den HerikFriday, December 12Niels Zonneveld 3-0 Haupai PuhaIan White 3-2 Mervyn KingRyan Searle 3-0 Chris LandmanRob Cross 3-0 Cor DekkerRoss Smith 2-3 Andreas HarryssonRicky Evans 3-0 Man Lok LeungGian van Veen 3-1 Cristo ReyesDamon Heta 3-1 Steve LennonSaturday, December 13Mario Vandenbogaerde 1-3 David DaviesAndrew Gilding 3-0 Cam CrabtreeLuke Woodhouse 3-1 Boris KrcmarGary Anderson 3-2 Adam HuntJeffrey de Graaf 1-3 Paul LimWessel Nijman 3-0 Karel SedlacekLuke Humphries 3-1 Ted EvettsGabriel Clemens 3-0 Alex SpellmanSunday, December 14 Ritchie Edhouse 0-3 Jonny TataDom Taylor 3-0 Oskar LukasiakRichard Veenstra 2-3 Nitin KumarJoe Cullen 3-0 Bradley BrooksLukas Wenig 1-3 Wesley PlaisierDimitri Van den Bergh 0-3 Darren BeveridgeStephen Bunting 3-2 Sebastian BialeckiJames Hurrell 3-1 Stowe BuntzMonday, December 15Brendan Dolan 3-1 Tavis DudeneyCameron Menzies 2-3 Charlie ManbyMensur Suljovic 3-1 David CameronPeter Wright 3-0 Noa-Lynn van LeuvenMartin Lukeman 1-3 Max HoppDirk van Duijvenbode 3-2 Andy BaetensJonny Clayton 3-1 Adam LipscombeConnor Scutt 3-2 Simon WhitlockWatch the PDC World Darts Championship*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenueThere’s no better festive viewing than the World Darts Championship, and if you want to keep up with Luke Littler’s title defence you can watch the whole tournament on Sky Sports.Sky will be broadcasting live from Ally Pally on their Sky Sports Darts channel, and existing Sky customers can upgrade to include sports channels for as little as £20 a month.Click here to view purchase options and subscribe to Sky Sports.Tuesday, December 16Alan Soutar 3-2 Teemu HarjuNick Kenny 0-3 Justin HoodScott Williams 3-0 Paolo NebridaChris Dobey 3-1 Xiaochen ZongRicardo Pietreczko 3-1 Jose de SousaDanny Noppert 3-1 Jurjen van der VeldeGerwyn Price 3-0 Adam GawlasNiko Springer 1-3 Joe ComitoWednesday, December 17Matt Campbell 1-3 Adam SevadaRaymond van Barneveld 0-3 Stefan BellmontJames Wade 3-0 Ryusei AzemotoMartin Schindler 3-1 Stephen BurtonThursday, December 18Callan Rydz 3-0 Patrik KovacsThibault Tricole 0-3 Motomu SakaiRyan Joyce 3-0 Owen BatesMike De Decker 2-3 David MunyuaJermaine Wattimena 3-2 Dominik GruellichDave Chisnall 3-0 Fallon SherrockMichael van Gerwen 3-0 Mitsuhiko TatsunamiKrzysztof Ratajski 3-0 Alexis ToyloFriday, December 19Kevin Doets 3-1 Matthew DennantRyan Meikle 3-0 Jesus SalateMickey Mansell 2-3 Leonard GatesJosh Rock 3-1 Gemma HayterWilliam O’Connor 3-0 Krzysztof KciukDaryl Gurney 3-2 Beau GreavesNathan Aspinall 3-1 Lourence IlaganKeane Barry 3-0 Tim PuseyRound 2Saturday, December 20Ryan Searle 3-0 Brendan DolanAndreas Harrysson 3-0 Motomu SakaiDirk van Duijvenbode 2-3 James HurrellDave Chisnall 2-3 Ricardo PietreczkoMichael Smith 1-3 Niels ZonneveldChris Dobey 1-3 Andrew GildingStephen Bunting 3-0 Nitin KumarJonny Clayton bye (Dom Taylor suspended)Sunday, December 21Ryan Joyce 1-3 Krzysztof RatajskiJoe Cullen 1-3 Mensur SuljovicLuke Woodhouse 3-0 Max HoppRob Cross 3-1 Ian WhiteMartin Schindler 3-0 Keane BarryGerwyn Price 0-3 Wesley PlaisierLuke Littler 3-0 David DaviesDamon Heta 3-2 Stefan BellmontMonday, December 22Darren Beveridge 1-3 Madars RazmaWessel Nijman 0-3 Gabriel ClemensDavid Munyua 0-3 Kevin DoetsJames Wade 2-3 Ricky EvansGian Van Veen 3-1 Alan SoutarNathan Aspinall 3-0 Leonard GatesLuke Humphries 3-0 Paul LimCharlie Manby 3-0 Adam SevadaTuesday, December 23Jonny Tata 2-3 Ryan MeikleDaryl Gurney 2-3 Callan RydzJermaine Wattimena 3-2 Scott WilliamsPeter Wright 0-3 Arno MerkDanny Noppert 2-3 Justin HoodGary Anderson 3-1 Connor ScuttMichael van Gerwen 3-1 William O’ConnorJosh Rock 3-0 Joe ComitoRound 3Saturday, December 27Wesley Plaisier 3-4 Krzysztof RatajskiAndrew Gilding 1-4 Luke WoodhouseJonny Clayton 4-3 Niels ZonneveldAndreas Harrysson 4-2 Ricardo PietreczkoStephen Bunting vs James HurrellLuke Littler vs Mensur SuljovicSunday, December 28Martin Schindler 0-4 Ryan SearleDamon Heta 0-4 Rob CrossGary Anderson 4-3 Jermaine WattimenaGian van Veen 4-1 Madars RazmaLuke Humphries 4-2 Gabriel ClemensMichael van Gerwen 4-1 Arno MerkMonday, December 29Justin Hood 4-1 Ryan MeikleRicky Evans 2-4 Charlie ManbyNathan Aspinall 3-4 Kevin DoetsJosh Rock 4-1 Callan RydzRound 4Monday, December 29James Hurrell 0-4 Ryan SearleLuke Littler 4-2 Rob CrossTuesday, December 30Luke Woodhouse 2-4 Krzysztof RatajskiJonny Clayton 4-2 Andreas HarryssonJustin Hood 4-0 Josh RockCharlie Manby 1-4 Gian van VeenMichael van Gerwen 1-4 Gary AndersonLuke Humphries 4-1 Kevin DoetsQuarter-finalsThursday, January 1Afternoon Session (12:30)Ryan Searle vs Jonny ClaytonGary Anderson vs Justin HoodEvening Session (19:00)Luke Littler vs Krzysztof RatajskiLuke Humphries vs Gian van VeenSemi-finalsFriday, January 2 – 19:00Littler / Ratajski vs Searle / ClaytonHumphries / Van Veen vs Anderson / HoodFinalSaturday, January 3 – 20:00PDC World Championship 2025/26 prize potWinner: £1,000,000Runner-Up: £400,000Semi-Finalists: £200,000Quarter-Finalists: £100,000Last 16 losers: £60,000Last 32 losers: £35,000Last 64 losers: £25,000Last 128 losers: £15,000Total: £5,000,000PDC World Championship 2025/26: Prize moneyThis edition of the showpiece darts event is set to see an unprecedented amount of prize money dished out.The overall pot is doubling from £2.5million to £5m, and the winner will take home £1m of that.It is the biggest prize pot in the tournament’s history and follows a massive increase from the PDC across all of its events.Speaking about the increase, the PDC’s chief executive Matt Porter said: “The £1 million prize for the World Champion reflects darts’ standing as one of the most exciting and in-demand sports in the world and the historic total will rightly attract headlines as the biggest prize ever paid out in the sport.“However, the increased prize funds announced today demonstrate our commitment to growing earning potential for players at all levels within the PDC system.“Expanding the player fields for the World Darts Championship and Grand Slam of Darts will provide more opportunities than ever before for players around the world to feature in televised PDC events.“The incredible growth of the PDC in recent years has seen darts elevated to levels never seen before both in terms of playing opportunities and global interest and this is a huge moment for all players with the ambition to make it to the very pinnacle of the sport.”2026 PDC World Championship Odds and Offer2026 PDC World Darts Championship Winner Odds:Luke Littler – 8/13Luke Humphries – 4/1Gian van Veen – 7/1Michael van Gerwen – 12/1Josh Rock – 14/1Gary Anderson – 18/1Visit talkSPORT BET for all PDC Darts World Championship oddsSign up to talkSPORT BET and get £40 in free bets when you bet £10 on the action at the Darts – CLAIM HERETerms: 18+ New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10 on any sports market within 7 days of sign up. Get 2x£20 Free Bets for set markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly.