The Favourites for the PDC World Championships

It’s that time of year again, when Alexandra Palace welcomes thousands of fans for the biggest event in the darts calendar: The PDC World Championships.

With the festive showpiece now well underway and World Darts Championship odds taking centre stage, all eyes are on the leading contenders for this year’s Sid Waddell Trophy.

While big names like Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and James Wade have been sent packing early, four players, in particular, stand out from the chasing pack after the first couple of rounds — and here’s how they stack up.

 

Luke Littler – 4/6

Luke Littler is back at Ally Pally as the clear favourite to retain his world crown. The teenage sensation has elevated the sport to new heights since his explosive breakthrough, and a second title already feels within reach.
Littler has enjoyed a remarkable year, lifting major trophies including the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Grand Slam of Darts.

The Warrington-native has already sent Darius Labanauskas and debutant NHS work David Davies to the wayside with consecutive 3-0 wins, and now faces the renowned slow-paced Mensur Suljović in the third round.
With elite form, unrivalled confidence, and the full backing of the Ally Pally crowd, he remains the red-hot frontrunner to go back-to-back.

 

Luke Humphries – 5/1

At 5/1, Luke Humphries is widely viewed as the biggest threat to Littler’s crown. Humphries may have played the role of pantomime villain in 2024 — even being booed to the stage by some sections of the crowd — but he silenced the noise with a clinical 7–4 victory over Littler in the final.

While 2025 hasn’t been as dominant for “Cool Hand Luke,” he has still added notable titles to his CV, including the World Masters and his first Premier League triumph.

Humphries gave away a set in a 3-1 win over Ted Evetts in the first round, but was never really under pressure from the world number 131 before dropping just one leg in the 3-0 win over veteran Paul Lim next time out.

With major-winning experience and proven composure under pressure, he remains firmly in the mix.

 

Gian van Veen – 7/1

With his odds shortening after every round, Gian van Veen’s quest for the World Championship crown is starting to be taken very seriously.

The young Dutchman’s rise up the ranks hit new heights when he won his first televised title against Humphries in the European Championship final, and he warmed up for this tournament by successfully defending his World Youth Championship title last month.

The No.10 in the world has already proven he can compete with the two Lukes, and he’s already been playing some fantastic darts at Ally Pally this year, with wins over Cristo Reyes and Alan Soutar—averaging an impressive 108.28 against the Scot.

 

Josh Rock – 22/1

Priced at 22/1, Josh Rock continues to rise through the ranks with every passing season. The 2022 World Youth Champion enjoyed his best professional year in 2024, highlighted by winning the World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland alongside Daryl Gurney.

Rock saw off Gemma Hayter in the first round with a 3-1 win, and will have his sights firmly set on a deep run in the competition this year.

That said, his best World Championship run so far saw him reach the Last 16 in 2023, meaning he’ll still need a big step forward to go all the way.

Still, with his scoring power and fearless temperament, “Rocky” is more than capable of making an impact — and surprising a few along the way.

 

Other contenders

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is another 22/1 shot as he seeks a first victory on the Ally Pally stage since 2019, while fan favourite Stephen Bunting is a popular pick at 33/1.

Elsewhere, Nathan Aspinall has gone about his business without much fuss, beating Lourence Ilagan (3-1) and Leonard Gates (3-0), but remains a 40/1 outsider.

---

With a mix of rising superstars, proven champions, and dangerous outsiders, this year’s tournament promises drama from the very first dart.

For fans looking to get involved with darts betting, the field offers no shortage of storylines or potential value.
One thing is certain: Ally Pally is warming up nicely for a thrilling conclusion, the players are ready — and another unforgettable World Championship awaits.