The tournament, unlike other events, features 32 qualifiers split into eight groups of four, instead of a straight knockout format.
Mr Porter said the beauty of the format meant audiences had more chances to see the big names and added a greater sense of jeopardy to the event.
“If you’re going to see a shock then it’s likely to be here in the group stages because in short races, anyone can beat anybody,” he said.
Giving a flavour of a live darts event, the chief executive spoke about how the sport had evolved over the past several decades.
“It’s perhaps not what you’d have expected darts to be if you followed in the 80s or 90s,” he said.
“It’s a very high-energy sport now, the players are a lot younger, obviously the prize money is huge, and we play to sell-out crowds all around the world.
