PDC World Championship overview
The PDC Darts World Championship runs from December 15 to January 1 at Alexandra Palace in London and is one of the most bet-on darts events of the year. The 96-player draw features the world’s top professionals, qualifiers and international representatives. The format is sets-and-legs, with match length increasing as the rounds progress — first-round matches are best of 3 sets, the final is best of 13 sets. This format variation affects how you should approach match betting and set handicaps.
Outright winner market
The outright market opens months before the tournament with the world number one typically as short as 3/1 to 5/1. Each-way at 1/4 for top 4 or top 8 is available from most operators. The darts world championship has seen upsets in recent years, with qualifiers reaching later rounds. This creates genuine interest in longer-priced each-way selections — though ‘value’ in outright darts markets requires the same evidence-based approach as any other sport.
Match betting and set/leg markets
Match winner (who advances to the next round) is the most popular market. Set betting (predict the correct number of sets, e.g. 3-1 or 3-0) is offered on most matches and carries a wider margin than match winner, similar to correct score in football. Legs handicap betting (player A –2.5 legs) is available for some matches and can offer better value than match winner when the ability gap is significant.
In-play darts betting
In-play betting during the World Championship is widely available on televised matches. Live set prices and next-set betting are the most popular in-play markets. Darts is a momentum sport — a player averaging 100+ per dart in a set changes the in-play price dramatically. If you plan to bet in-play, watch the match rather than relying on data feeds, as average calculation can lag behind the live picture. 18+ — Gambling Awareness Trust: 1800 753 753.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PDC Darts World Championship 2027 runs from approximately 15 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 at Alexandra Palace, London. Exact dates are confirmed by the PDC earlier in the year.
Outright winner, match winner, set betting (correct score), set handicap, legs handicap, highest checkout, most 180s and in-play next-set betting are the main markets available on televised rounds.
Matches progress from best-of-3-sets in round one up to best-of-13-sets in the final. Each set is first to 3 legs. The extended format in later rounds means early-round results on match winner do not translate directly to later rounds — adjust your assessment of match betting accordingly.
18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Play responsibly. Gambling Awareness Trust — 1800 753 753 — gamblingcare.ie. GRAI licence: GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001.