World Darts Championship format modifications: PDC confirms seeds will play further spherical in expanded area to incorporate 4 girls | Darts Information

The PDC has revealed modifications to the World Darts Championship format, with seeds to play an additional spherical in an expanded area to incorporate at the very least 4 girls.

The 2025/26 World Darts Championship will see a record-breaking 128-player area vying to raise the long-lasting Sid Waddell Trophy, with a complete prize fund of £5m on supply – £1m as the highest prize.

In a change from earlier years, all gamers will enter the event on the first spherical stage, with 32 seeded gamers and gamers ranked 33-64 drawn at random into the left hand aspect of the draw towards the remaining 64 qualifiers.

“The growth of the event will present gamers from the PDC’s international affiliate excursions and secondary excursions with additional alternatives to compete on the game’s largest stage,” an announcement launched on Tuesday learn.

“This can embody a minimal of 4 girls within the 128-player area.”

The highest 40 gamers from the PDC Order of Benefit following November’s Gamers Championship Finals will qualify routinely, together with reigning champion Luke Littler.

World No 1 Luke Humphries may even headline at Alexandra Palace, alongside three-time champion Michael van Gerwen – the runner-up to Littler final January.

The highest 40 non-qualified gamers from the ProTour Order of Benefit may even characteristic on this 12 months’s extravaganza, with the remaining 48 locations set to be allotted to Worldwide Qualifiers.

The 2025/26 World Darts Championship will start in December earlier than culminating in January, with additional info to be confirmed sooner or later.

What is the subsequent darts occasion on Sky Sports activities?

The spotlight of the darting summer time will see the Betfred World Matchplay held from July 19-27 on the Winter Gardens, as Luke Humphries bids to retain the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy, with world champion Luke Littler and three-time winner Michael van Gerwen additionally set to headline the £800,000 occasion throughout 9 days.

Sunday July 27 may even characteristic the fourth staging of the Betfred Girls’s World Matchplay, that includes eight gamers competing throughout one session – with Beau Greaves having received the 2023 and 2024 occasions.

Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW