The PDC World Darts Championship is the pinnacle event in the darts calendar, attracting the world’s elite players to compete for the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy and a substantial prize fund. The 2024/25 tournament, held at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace from December 15, 2024, to January 3, 2025, features 96 competitors vying for a share of the £2.5 million prize pool, with the champion set to receive £500,000.

Tournament Structure and Schedule

The championship unfolds over several rounds:

• First Round: 64 players from various international qualifiers and ProTour Order of Merit face off.
• Second Round: The 32 first-round winners meet the top 10 betting apps australia 32 players from the PDC Order of Merit.
• Subsequent Rounds: The tournament progresses through the third round, fourth round, quarter-finals, semi-finals, culminating in the final on January 3, 2025.

Matches are played in a set-play format, with the number of sets required to win increasing in the later stages.

Key Contenders

As the tournament approaches its climax, several players have emerged as frontrunners:

• Luke Littler: At just 17, Littler has taken the darts world by storm. With ten title wins in 2024 and a current world ranking of fifth, he is the pre-tournament favorite. His consistent high scoring, particularly his proficiency in hitting 180s, has been a standout feature of his game.
• Michael van Gerwen: A three-time world champion, top 10 betting apps australia van Gerwen’s experience and top 10 betting apps australia pedigree make him a formidable opponent.

  Despite not being at his peak form, his ability to deliver under pressure keeps him in contention.

• Luke Humphries: The defending champion and world number one, Humphries has had a stellar year, rarely finishing outside the top eight in PDC events. However, an unexpected fourth-round exit in this tournament has opened the field for other contenders.

Betting Markets and Strategies

Betting on the PDC World Darts Championship offers a variety of markets beyond simply picking the outright winner.

Here are some popular betting options and strategies to consider:

1. Match Betting: Wagering on the outcome of individual matches. Given the tournament’s format, early rounds may present opportunities where top 10 betting apps australia seeds face lower-ranked qualifiers, potentially offering favorable odds.
2. Set Betting: Predicting the exact scoreline in sets. This market requires a deeper understanding of players’ performances and can offer higher odds due to its specificity.
3. Handicap Betting: In matches where there is a clear favorite, bookmakers may offer a handicap to level the playing field for betting purposes.

   For example, a -1.5 set handicap means the favorite must win by at least two sets for the bet to succeed.

4. Total 180s: Betting on the number of 180s (maximum scores) in a match or throughout the tournament. Players like Luke Littler, known for high scoring, make this an attractive market.