PDC World Darts Championship prize money: How much darts players earn per round and for a nine-dart finish

The PDC World Darts Championship is back in full swing, and the stakes are higher than ever before.

The ‘Luke Littler effect’ has seen the sport explode in popularity in recent years, since the teenage sensation broke onto the scene with a remarkable run to the final in his World Championship debut.

Littler would go one better and win the biggest prize in darts last year, while he’s spent 2025 mopping up major title after major title to surge ahead of Luke Humphries as world No.1.

Although a host of elite players will have their eyes on the crown, Littler is once again the overwhelming favourite to win the title. But what would that bag him in terms of prize money? After all, the biggest fund in PDC history is on offer at this year’s tournament, which features a record field of 128 players.

2026 PDC World Darts Championship prize money

The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship will see a record £1,000,000 won by the winner alone, with even the runner-up scooping a massive £400,000 - which is double last year’s prize for second place, only £100,000 less than the 2025 winner, and equal to Rob Cross’ reward when he beat Phil Taylor to become world champion back in 2018.

But even the earlier rounds are now offering up massive sums that can not only change a player’s life, but also go a long way toward defining where they’ll sit in the Order of Merit over the next 12 months, and whether or not they’ll feature in 2026’s major televised events.

And in addition to the handsome sums on offer per round, there’s now the carrot of a £60,000 payout per nine-darter on offer - just as there was at the 2025 tournament, which featured two perfect legs from Christian Kist and Damon Heta.

• Winner: £1,000,000
• Runner-up: £400,000
• Semi-finalists: £200,000
• Quarter-finalists: £100,000
• Fourth round losers: £60,000
• Third round losers: £35,000
• Second round losers: £25,000
• First round losers: £15,000
• Nine-dart finish: £60,000

How to watch the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship

Sky Sports are once again showing every single match from the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship live, with UK viewers able to watch the tournament on Sky Sports Main Event and the exclusive Sky Sports Darts channel. The latter will also be showing reruns of classic matches and memorable moments throughout the tournament.

If you’re out and about, you can still catch all the action from the Alexandra Palace live via the Sky Sports app, while Now TV also offers non-contract daily and monthly passes. TalkSPORT 2 are also providing live radio commentary for many sessions, for those who are on the road while the players are in action.

The tournament runs from 11th December to 3rd January, with afternoon sessions starting at 12:30pm and evening sessions at 7pm.

PDC World Darts Championship previous winners and most successful players

• 1994: Dennis Priestley (6-1 vs Phil Taylor)
• 1995: Phil Taylor (6-2 vs Rod Harrington)
• 1996: Phil Taylor (6-4 vs Dennis Priestley)
• 1997: Phil Taylor (6-3 vs Dennis Priestley)
• 1998: Phil Taylor (6-0 vs Dennis Priestley)
• 1999: Phil Taylor (6-2 vs Peter Manley)
• 2000: Phil Taylor (7-3 vs Dennis Priestley)
• 2001: Phil Taylor (7-0 vs John Part)
• 2002: Phil Taylor (7-0 vs Peter Manley)
• 2003: John Part (7-6 vs Phil Taylor)
• 2004: Phil Taylor (7-6 vs Kevin Painter)
• 2005: Phil Taylor (7-4 vs Mark Dudbridge)
• 2006: Phil Taylor (7-0 vs Peter Manley)
• 2007: Raymond van Barneveld (7-6 vs Phil Taylor)
• 2008: John Part (7-2 vs Kirk Shepherd)
• 2009: Phil Taylor (7-1 vs Raymond van Barneveld)
• 2010: Phil Taylor (7-3 vs Simon Whitlock)
• 2011: Adrian Lewis (7-5 vs Gary Anderson)
• 2012: Adrian Lewis (7-3 vs Andy Hamilton)
• 2013: Phil Taylor (7-4 vs Michael van Gerwen)
• 2014: Michael van Gerwen (7-4 vs Peter Wright)
• 2015: Gary Anderson (7-6 vs Phil Taylor)
• 2016: Gary Anderson (7-5 vs Adrian Lewis)
• 2017: Michael van Gerwen (7-3 vs Gary Anderson)
• 2018: Rob Cross (7-2 vs Phil Taylor)
• 2019: Michael van Gerwen (7-3 vs Michael Smith)
• 2020: Peter Wright (7-3 vs Michael van Gerwen)
• 2021: Gerwyn Price (7-3 vs Gary Anderson)
• 2022: Peter Wright (7-5 vs Michael Smith)
• 2023: Michael Smith (7-4 vs Michael van Gerwen)
• 2024: Luke Humphries (7-4 vs Luke Littler)
• 2025: Luke Littler (7-3 vs Michael van Gerwen)

Phil Taylor is comfortably the most successful player in PDC World Darts Championship history, winning a staggering 14 titles. Michael van Gerwen is the closest player to The Power back on three world titles, while he’s also second for final appearances on seven to Taylor’s 19.

Two Scottish players have won the title, with Gary Anderson and Peter Wright both lifting it twice, making them two of just six players to win it more than once, alongside Taylor (14), MVG (3), Adrian Lewis (2) and John Part (2).