Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2026, start time & TV info
Date Thursday, December 11, 2025, to Saturday, January 3, 2026
Starts 1pm Monday
Venue Alexandra Palace, London
Competition PDC Tour
TV Sky Sports
Two-time world champion Peter Wright will be hoping to find his best form on Day Five of the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship from Alexandra Palace.
Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2026 day five acca
Martin Lukeman to beat Max Hopp
Martin Lukeman has been struggling to find his peak game, but it was only last year that Smash made the final of the Grand Slam and the Hammersmith hitter looks too big a price in this spot.
Dirk van Duijvenbode to beat Andy Baetens
The heavy scoring of Dirk van Duijvenbode could carry the Dutchman a long way at Alexandra Palace and the Titan can flex his muscles against Andy Baetens.
Connor Scutt to beat Simon Whitlock
Connor Scutt has a quality which can trouble the sport’s top performer, but even a competent performance should be enough to see off veteran Simon Whitlock.
Pays 3.39-1 with bet365
Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2026 day five predictions
Best bets
Tavis Dudeney to beat Brendan Dolan
1pt 10-3 bet365
Martin Lukeman to beat Max Hopp
2pts 6-4 bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes
Dirk van Duijvenbode over 5.5 180s vs Andy Baetens
4pts 5-4 BoyleSports
Connor Scutt -1.5 sets vs Simon Whitlock
2pts 7-10 BoyleSports, Coral, Ladbrokes
Brendan Dolan vs Tavis Dudeney
An on-song Brendan Dolan had the ability to give any of darts’ top performers a game, but there have been few signs of the History Maker returning to former glories and the 52-year-old looks too short against first-round opponent Tavis Dudeney.
The Northern Irishman failed to qualify for the Matchplay, Grand Prix, Grand Slam, European Championship and Players Championship Finals, while the final four events of the Players Championship series yielded only two victories and he lost in the opening round of the two Euro Tour tournaments he entered this season.
Dolan had been tinkering with his throw in the early part of the campaign and the past 12 months have marked a major drop off for the thrower from Enniskillen.
Tavis Dudeney has plenty to prove on his World Championship debut, but the Dude has beaten Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens and Ricardo Pietreczko on the Pro Tour this term and offers of 10-3 may underestimate his chances of upsetting Dolan.
Martin Lukeman vs Max Hopp
It has been a season to forget for Martin Lukeman, but he can salvage something from the campaign by beating Max Hopp on Monday.
It was only last year that Lukeman reached the final of the Grand Slam and the 40-year-old is also a former UK Open and World Matchplay quarter-finalist.
The Hammersmith man will need to show improved form on the Alexandra Palace stage this week, but even when Hopp was at his peak, the German didn’t achieve the success of Smash.
The 6-4 on offer about a Lukeman victory looks far too big.
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Andy Baetens
Getting long on Dirk van Duijvenbode’s 180s looks the best play on today’s card. The Titan will have eyes on a long run at Alexandra Palace and any success will be built on power scoring.
Van Duijvenbode is inside the world’s top-ten in terms of Pro Tour averages this season and only Luke Littler and Josh Rock are putting up better maximum numbers.
The Titan is fancied to get the better of Andy Baetens in round one, but it’s unlikely to be a walkover for the Dutchman. A competitive contest should mean plenty of legs and opportunities to smash the treble 20.
Van Duijvenbode was poor when losing to Madars Razma on the Ally Pally stage last year, but that contest came in the middle of an injury crisis and this year’s average of 97.45 suggests the 33-year-old is back to his best. The Dutchman’s 180 line has been set at 5.5 and going over that mark rates a strong bet.
Connor Scutt vs Simon Whitlock
Connor Scutt is an improving arrowsmith, and while the Sniper may not have the consistency of the sport’s top performers, his ceiling is high.
Scutt got the better of Daryl Gurney and Karel Sedlaeck at this year’s Grand Slam and the south Londoner averaged 99.48 in a group-stage defeat to Luke Littler.
A similar performance to that one in Wolverhampton should see Scutt far too hot to handle for veteran Simon Whitlock.
The Aussie has lost his tour card and put up numbers of only 84.80 across 17 matches when qualifying for the World Championship via the ANZ Premier League.
Take the Sniper to give the Wizard a 1.5-set start on the handicap.
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Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2026 FAQs
When is the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship?
The 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship will take place from Thursday December 11, 2025, to Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Where is the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship being held?
The event will be held at Alexandra Palace in London.
Who is the favourite to win the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship?
2025 champion Luke Littler is the 10-11 favourite to retain his title.
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