PDC cracks a million
Prize money for darts world champion is doubled
31.03.2025 – 12:34 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The PDC increases prize money like never before. The world champion now receives twice as much as before. This is made possible by a new TV contract.
The PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) is advancing with the Darts World Championship from the coming tournament in new dimensions-with significantly more players and significantly higher premiums. As the world association announced, the field of participants will be expanded from 96 to 128 players from the 2026 World Cup.
The prize money is also increased vigorously: the future world champion will then receive the equivalent of 1.2 million euros – which corresponds to one million pounds. So far it was around 580,000 euros (£ 500,000).
“The prize money reflects the status of darts as one of the most exciting and sought-after sports in the world,” said PDC managing director Matt Porter in the run-up to the Premier League tournament in Berlin.
With the enlargement of the field of participants, the tournament process will also change. In the future, all players – including the top stars around world champions Luke Littler – will compete in the first round. The tournament format remains a knockout system, but in the future, in the future, resembles a Grand Slam tournament in tennis.
The additional 32 games add eight other sessions to Alexandra Palace in London. The PDC expects additional ticket revenue here.
Not only the title bonus is increased: Players who leave round one can also look forward to twice as much prize money in the future. Instead of around 9,000 euros (£ 7,500), you will receive 18,000 euros (£ 15,000) in the future.
Darts professionals can also earn significantly more at other events in the future. At the World Matchplay and the Grand Slam, the most important tournaments of the PDC after the World Cup, one million pounds will be released in the future.
The greatest increase in prize in the 33-year PDC history is the consequence of the new contract with Sky UK. The Pay TV station had again secured the rights to most events at the beginning of the year. According to British media reports, Sky UK is to pay around 149.5 million euros (£ 125 million) for the next five years.