Which Debutants Could Cause a Stir at the PDC World Championships In 2025/26?

There have been some amazing performances by debutants in the PDC World Championships over the years.

Rob Cross came from nowhere in 2017 to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy at the end of the season, while Raymond van Barneveld's ascent to glory in his debut year in 2006/07 was rather more sign-posted, given his success in the BDO.

The likes of Mark Webster and Jelle Klaasen also reached the semi-finals in their maiden year, so could anyone replicate that feat in 2025/26?

Perhaps not, but here's some of the more intriguing debutants heading to Ally Pally all the same.

 

Lukas Wenig

Those seeking the longest of longshots as a PDC World Championship bet this festive period may look to Lukas Wenig as their go-to option.

His darts odds of 300/1 are a million miles away from the more fancied runners, such as Luke Humphries (7/2) and Michael van Gerwen (14/1), but the German showed at the Grand Slam that he's able to mix it with quality opposition.

Wenig went down by a single leg to the excellent Danny Noppert in Group H, but defeated the in-form Jonny Clayton to book his place in the knockout phase of the competition.

The 31-year-old beat his compatriot, the precocious Niko Springer, in the Round of 16, before testing Noppert again in their quarter-final clash.

略SUPER NOPPIE WIPES OUT WENIG TO MAKE GRAND SLAM SEMIS!

Danny Noppert has blasted his way into the last four of the Grand Slam of Darts, taking out 140 and 116 en route to a superb 16-8 quarter final win against Lukas Wenig in Wolverhampton.

The Dutchman averaged over 98 and… pic.twitter.com/BhpzRgO7Fg

— MODUS Sports (@ModusDarts180) November 15, 2025

Wenig isn't the sort of player that's going to average 100+ every game. Still, he's a solid scorer with a season-long checkout percentage in excess of 35%, and the former powerlifter certainly has the physical - and mental - strength to cause an upset or two at Alexandra Palace.

 

Cor Dekker

Although he hasn't shown the level of consistency to compete with the world's best on a regular basis, there's no doubt that Cor Dekker has a high performance ceiling.

Rewind back to the Swiss Darts Trophy in September, when he defeated Chris Dobey with a 100.07 average in the third Round before defeating Clayton in a last leg decider in the last eight.

The Norwegian would lose to Luke Woodhouse in the semi-finals, but it offered a glimpse of what Dekker is capable of.

That form has continued, somewhat, with victories over the likes of Daryl Gurney, Ricky Evans, Andrew Gilding and Cameron Menzies, so the 38-year-old has the profile of a player that could win through the early rounds of the Worlds.

And then… who knows? Given the levels that Dekker can reach, he might just be a dangerous dark horse lurking in the draw.

 

Andreas Harrysson

Better late than never for Andreas Harrysson, who has booked his Ally Pally debut at the tender age of 50.

The Swede won the Nordic & Baltic Tour to confirm his place in the World Championship draw, while reaffirming the feeling that – despite his advancing years – Harrysson is actually improving as a player.

He won the Modus Super Series in 2024, before adding a pair of PDC Challenge Tour titles to his collection.

Andreas Harrysson rounded off Saturday's Winmau Challenge Tour double-header with Event 22 success, sealed with a 5-2 victory over Stefaan Henderyck!  pic.twitter.com/nOstriGaA2

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 2, 2024

And, in 2025, Harrysson reached the fourth Round of Pro Tour events on a handful of occasions, throwing in an astonishing average of 110.18 at Players Championship 22.

Another underdog that has beaten plenty of quality operators this year, Harrysson – along with Wenig and Dekker – could deliver an upset or two at the World Championship.