The Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2023/2024 is the most anticipated event in the darting calendar, as 96 players from around the world compete for the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy and a share of the £2.5 million prize fund. The tournament will take place at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London from December 15 to January 3, with fans expected to flock to the venue to witness the drama and excitement of the sport’s biggest spectacle.
The favourites going into the event are the usual suspects, with world number one Michael van Gerwen leading the pack. The Dutchman has won the title three times before, in 2014, 2017 and 2019, and will be eager to reclaim his crown after losing to Gerwyn Price in the final last year. Van Gerwen has been in fine form this season, winning six ranking titles and reaching the final of the Premier League and the World Matchplay. He is the undisputed king of the oche, with a combination of power, precision and passion that makes him hard to beat.
However, he will face stiff competition from the likes of Price, Peter Wright, Jonny Clayton and Gary Anderson, who have all shown that they can challenge Van Gerwen on the big stage. Price is the reigning champion and world number two, having become the first Welshman to win the title last year. He has also won the World Cup of Darts and the World Grand Prix this year, proving that he is a force to be reckoned with. Wright is the 2020 champion and world number three, who has a flair for the flamboyant and a knack for hitting the big finishes. He has won three ranking titles this year, including the European Championship and the Players Championship Finals. Clayton is the reigning Premier League and Masters champion, who has enjoyed a breakthrough year in the PDC. The Welshman has risen to world number four and has formed a formidable partnership with Price in the World Cup of Darts. Anderson is a two-time world champion and world number five, who has the experience and the pedigree to go all the way. The Scot has reached the final four times, most recently in 2021, and has also won the UK Open and the World Matchplay this year.
The Irish contingent at the event will be led by Daryl Gurney, who is the highest-ranked player from the island at world number 28. The Northern Irishman has been a regular fixture in the top 10 for the past few years, but has slipped down the rankings due to a loss of form and confidence. He will be hoping to rediscover his best game at the Ally Pally, where he has reached the quarter-finals twice before. He will be joined by William O’Connor, who is the highest-ranked player from the Republic of Ireland at world number 36. The Limerick man has been a consistent performer on the Pro Tour, and has also impressed in the major tournaments, reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup of Darts and the World Grand Prix in 2019. He will be aiming to improve on his best result at the World Championship, which is the third round in 2020.
Other Irish players who have qualified for the event are Steve Lennon, Brendan Dolan, Keane Barry, Ciaran Teehan and Chris Gilliland. Lennon is a former World Cup of Darts finalist, who has reached the last 16 of the World Championship twice. Dolan is a veteran of the PDC, who made history in 2011 by hitting the first ever nine-dart finish in a double-to-start game at the World Grand Prix. Barry is a young star, who has won the World Youth Championship and the BDO World Youth Championship in 2019. Teehan is another promising talent, who has won two Development Tour titles and reached the last 32 of the UK Open this year. Gilliland is a debutant at the World Championship, who qualified through the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.
The Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2023/2024 promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable affair, with plenty of drama, upsets and surprises in store. The fans will be treated to a feast of darts, as the best players in the world battle it out for the ultimate glory. Who will lift the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 3? Only time will tell.