The Darts World Cup is changed comprehensively. Now PDC boss Matthew Porter reveals a few details about the future mode.
The proclamation has struck like a bomb: From the 2026 edition 2026, a record price is played at the Darts World Cup of the PDC, the winner receives one million pounds. In addition, 128 will participate instead of 96 players before.
Professional Darts Corporation has not yet announced the exact design of this revolution. How the additional 32 starting places are distributed is still open. But CEO Matthew Porter has now revealed a few details.
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The PDC boss at online darts revealed that all players will get on in the first round. In recent years, the top 32 of the Order of Merit had only been set and only got on in round. “Yes, it will be a flat mode,” confirmed Porter.
“The World Cup is not a walk in the park”
This change will no longer be protected as before. The draw could also come about extremely difficult ways. But Porter emphasized: “If you want to win a million pounds, you won’t get it in. Before that, as a top 32 player, you had to win six matches to win 500,000 pounds. Now a victory is more necessary to win double prize money.”
He pushed behind to clarify: “The World Cup is not a walk in the park.” The Englishman also explained that there would continue to be 32 players. The exact division of the loose pots is not yet determined.
The fact that the PDC has not yet released how many players qualify for the 2026 World Cup, although the season has long been running, has come across criticism. Among other things, Ricardo Pietreczko denounced this condition at Sport1 : “That doesn’t work.”
New venue for darts World Cup?
Porter replied to these critics as follows: “I get it with, but we are with fundamental changes at a time. So it is special circumstances.”
“There will be options for players on the tour, from series below or developing countries. Starting places will also go to nations that have not yet been started,” said Porter and underlined: “We want to make a global event out of the World Cup.”
This may also include a new venue. There has been speculation for a long time that the PDC will turn their back on the legendary Alexandra Palace in London to catch the increased requirements of ticket sales as well as number of participants and journalists etc. Again and again Saudi Arabia is mentioned as a possible alternative.
“I know where the World Cup will be played. We will announce this shortly,” said Porter. The next major announcement of the PDC regarding the World Cup is already approaching.