Christmas officially begins as the World Darts Championship kicks off this weekend in the Alexandra Place in London. Many players hope to go far in the competition due to the significant amounts of prize money offered compared to other majors throughout the year.
We look at 10 to keep an eye out for over the next few weeks as they bid for glory on Friday, January 3rd 2025.
1. Michael Smith
The PDC ranking system is based on two years of events, meaning Bully Boy is defending the £500,000 he won when winning the trophy. At the moment, Smith is currently second in the world on £890,000. However, a bad run could see him jump outside the top 16 and lose a guaranteed spot in the Premier League, as only the top four in the world are certain of a place in the tournament.
2. Stephen Bunting
The World Masters Champion is on the unfavourable side of the draw, with current World Champion Luke Humphries in this section. Still, the Bullet seems to get the best out of himself in the Ally Pally stage, and with the fact he’s only defending £50,000, a push up the rankings and a Premier League spot will firmly be on his mind.
Stephen Bunting loves an Ally Pally karaoke session 🎤🎶 pic.twitter.com/aV11qqSXO9
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 13, 2024
3. Peter Wright
The former two-time world champion is a shadow of his former glory. His form took a dramatic nose dive in 2024. The constant change in darts mid-game (yes, mid-game) isn’t helping his confidence, as he currently sits 17th in the World Rankings. Scott’s man is almost certain to be a second-round casualty.
4. Wesley Plaisier
The big Dutchman has dominated the Modus Super Series and Development tour in 2024 and has even won a pro tour event. Plaisier currently sits 73rd in the rankings, and a first-round win against Japan player Ryusei Azemoto will secure him a tour card for 2025.
5. Martin Lukeman
The Grand Slam of Darts runner-up has gotten a favourable side of the draw, playing Indian Nitin Kumar in the first round before playing former UK Open winner Andrew Gilding in the second. If he brings anything like the form he did in the last Sky Sports competition, expect a push for the quarter-finals
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6. Chris Dobey
Going off averages in 2024, the Newcastle man would be 4th in the World, but results haven’t gone his way in key games. If he can tidy up on his finishing, he could easily be this year's semi-finalist.
7. Wessell Nijman
Some bookmakers have the Dutchman as the seventh favourite to win the tournament. This is perhaps thanks to his Grand Slam form, as he averaged 100 plus in all his group games but failed to qualify. He’s on the favourable side of the draw so that he could push for a quarter/semi-final.
8. Gerwyn Price
The Ice Man has had a mixed 2024. It's been a topsy-turvy year, from blistering displays to saying he will quit the sport. Can the Welsh man bring back his world championship-winning form, or will it be more of the ear muffs when the going gets tough?
Gerwyn Price is BLOCKING out the crowd noise...👀🎧 pic.twitter.com/Ns9pgCxkNt
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 1, 2023
9. Michael Van Gerwen
The Green Machine is in dire need of a service. It's been his worst period on the dart since winning the World Grand Prix against Mervin King when the tournament was in the City West in Dublin. Can the Dutchman capture World Title number four?
SEVENTEEN perfect darts from Michael van Gerwen 🤩
Outrageous from the Dutchman at the World Darts Championship 🎯 pic.twitter.com/lNwTWOXSCZ— Sky Sports (@SkySports) December 14, 2024
10. William O’Connor
It’s an All-Irish affair in the opening round, as Limerick William O’Connor plays Tipperary man Dylan Slevin. We tip O’Connor to get the edge, as he has more experience in the tournament and perhaps has been rather unlucky to lose in early rounds, as he has been a 3-2 loser numerous times in close games. He could push for a quarter-final spot on New Year's Day if he can get over Belgian and former Matchplay champion Dimitri Van Den Bergh.
