The 2026 PDC Paddy Power World Championship has reached its quarter-final stage, with just eight arrow-smiths still standing, all harbouring ambitions of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 3rd.
Each is also longingly staring at the one-million-pound prize on offer – the biggest single payday in the history of darts, waiting for one member of this octet.
Below is a quick run-down of the runners and riders hoping to last the pace. Three previous world champions remain, including the reigning champion Luke Littler, with four Ally Pally titles shared across the field.Naturally,
Littler is the overwhelming bookmakers’ favourite. That was the case long before the Alexandra Palace doors flung open on December 11th, and on both performance and statistics there is little to suggest the sponsors have misjudged their pricing.
Perhaps surprisingly, and despite his colossal seventeen maximums against Rob Cross, The Nuke is not leading the 180 stat. That honour belongs to Gary Anderson, whose tally of forty tops the chart, three more than the teenager. However, the 18-year-old is comfortably ahead in the tournament average column, boasting an impressive 103.09. He is one of just three players into three figures, alongside Gian van Veen and the Flying Scotsman.
From a betting perspective, there is little value in siding with the reigning champion. A £10 stake would return just £5 and change profit should Littler successfully retain his title. That price is likely to shorten further if he sees off the Polish Eagle, Krzysztof Ratajski – though not by much, as he is widely expected to do so comfortably. Match odds reflect that expectation, with Littler a gigantic 1/33 and Ratajski out at 10/1.
However, if you fancy a fairytale run from the Pole, he is a hefty 100/1 to lift the trophy, a price that would dramatically shorten should he topple the top seed.
There are two afternoon matches, and while Paddy Power have made their views clear, the disparity is nowhere near the gulf seen in the Littler-Ratajski clash.
Despite Jonny Clayton being the higher seed and the more decorated player, the bookmakers make Ryan Searle the favourite. That is largely down to Heavy Metal averaging around five points more than the Welshman and having yet to drop a set.
Searle is priced at 8/11 to overcome The Ferret, with Clayton available at 11/10.Debutant Justin Hood has shortened to 16/1 to win the title, significantly lower than he was a few weeks ago. His performances have impressed, and Gary Anderson will know he needs to be at his very best when the pair meet.
The Scot is priced at 4/9 to see off Hood, while the debutant is 7/4 to keep the dream alive by knocking out the two-time world champion. Many believe the standout tie of the round – and a potential classic for the tournament archives – will be Luke Humphries, winner on this stage two years ago, against reigning PDC World Youth and European Champion Gian van Veen.
Paddy Power lean towards Cool Hand Luke, largely due to experience and his proven ability to triumph on the Ally Pally stage. Humphries is priced at 8/13, with Van Veen at 5/4.
Tournament statistics are ultimately only a guide. Any given match is about what happens on the day, with countless variables to consider. Experience is a major factor, and for those who have been there, done it and bought the t-shirt – twice, in Anderson’s case – knowing what it takes to become world champion is a valuable commodity.
That said, debutant Justin Hood has looked anything but overawed and appears to be relishing the spotlight.There is also the burden of expectation. For favourites, the weight can sit heavy on the shoulders, while underdogs such as Ratajski and Hood often play with greater freedom.
Most elite players handle that pressure exceptionally well – it is, after all, what separates champions from contenders.Four matches, all with relatively clear favourites – overwhelmingly so in Littler’s case. But this is darts. Over the past year, and even within this tournament, we have seen more than enough shocks to know there are likely more to come. The only question is where they will land.
Sit back, enjoy, and prepare for seven mammoth, and very likely high-quality, encounters over the coming days.
Name: Luke Littler
Age: 18
Nationality: English
Nickname: The Nuke
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 1
World’s Prev Best: Winner (2025)
Tournament Average: 103.09
No. of 180s: 37
Paddy Power Odds: 4/7 fav
Name: Luke Humphries
Age: 30
Nationality: English
Nickname: Cool Hand
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 2
World’s Prev Best: Winner (2024)
Tournament Average: 99.75
No. of 180s: 29
Paddy Power Odds: 9/2
Name: Jonny Clayton
Age: 51
Nationality: Welsh
Nickname: The Ferret
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 4
World’s Prev Best: Quarter-Final (2023)
Tournament Average: 93.44
No. of 180s: 20
Paddy Power Odds: 40/1
Name: Gian van Veen
Age: 23
Nationality: Dutch
Nickname: The Giant
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 5
World’s Prev Best: Second Round (2025)Tournament Average: 100.9
0No. of 180s: 26
Paddy Power Odds: 17/2
Name: Gary Anderson
Age: 55
Nationality: Scottish
Nickname: The Flying Scotsman
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 11
World’s Prev Best: Winner (2015 & 2016)Tournament Average: 100.49
No. of 180s: 40
Paddy Power Odds: 17/2
Name: Ryan Searle
Age: 38
Nationality: English
Nickname: Heavy Metal
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 13
World’s Prev Best: Fourth Round (2019 & 2022)
Tournament Average: 98.71
No. of 180s: 15
Paddy Power Odds: 18/1
Name: Krzysztof Ratajski
Age: 48
Nationality: Polish
Nickname: The Polish Eagle
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 28
World’s Prev Best: Quarter-Final (2021)
Tournament Average: 96.67
No. of 180s: 16
Paddy Power Odds: 100/1
Name: Justin Hood
Age: 32Nationality: English
Nickname: Happy Feet
Ranking (as of 31.12.25): 50
World’s Prev Best: Debut
Tournament Average: 99.69
No. of 180s: 31
Paddy Power Odds: 16/1
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
