This prestigious accolade was awarded to PDC World Championship sponsor Paddy Power, whose ongoing partnership with Prostate Cancer UK continues to demonstrate the darts’ ability to make a meaningful impact far beyond the confines of the oche.
In an era where commercial involvement in sport is often scrutinised, this initiative stands as a shining example of how sponsorship can be leveraged for genuine social good.
MORE ON DARTS DOING GOOD? Check Out Our Credit Giving Section Here!
Central to this effort is the now-famous Big 180 campaign, a brilliantly simple yet profoundly effective concept that has transformed one of darts’ most iconic achievements into a vehicle for awareness and fundraising. For every maximum scored during the World Championship, significant donations are triggered, creating a direct and visible link between on-stage excellence and off-stage impact.
The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Millions have been raised, not only supporting vital research into prostate cancer but also amplifying awareness of a condition that affects countless lives. Just as importantly, the campaign has engaged fans in a way that feels organic and inclusive, allowing them to feel part of something larger than the sport itself.
In doing so, Paddy Power and Prostate Cancer UK have redefined what a sporting partnership can look like. It is no longer just about branding or visibility, but about purpose and legacy.
As if that was not enought, the superb effort by Paddy Power to raaise awareness of a rare, hereditary degenerative eye condition, Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), a rare, hereditary degenerative eye condition that causes blurred vision, reduced contrast, and poor colour vision by blurring their own advertising for a day during the champions was outstanding!
This award recognises not just financial contribution, but a sustained commitment to using the platform of darts to drive positive change – a legacy that will endure far longer than any single tournament.
Introducing The DartsWorld Awards 2025/26
DartsWorld has a half century worth of championing darts, its players, its achievements, and its progress across the globe. For a chunk of that time we have considered some slightly more formal acknowledgments in the vein of some annual awards.
In the end, talking about a project on the sidelines can go on forever without ever progressing unless an initial effort is made there is nothing to hone into a truly useful and celebratory tradition.
Our inaugural awards showcase nine awards that cover a wide spectrum of darting endeavours from the 2025/26 season that ended with the crowning of a new World Champion in January.
From the professional to the amateur, and from elite performance to charitable efforts we try to live up to our name.
In making our selection we do not lay claim to an open and democratic process, at least for the first outing. Instead we have asked those directly connected with DartsWorld. Players, writers, analysts and business leaders have chipped in nominations, award categories and eventual winners.
There are a few self imposed rules, but, somewhat like the pirates code, they are more a set of guidelines. The most important to explain any apparent outrage is that no player will get more than one award each year.
DARTS PLAYER MERCHANDISE AND COLLECTABLES AT OUR DARTSWORLD STORE!
We hope to develop the DW awards over time, they will be released earlier in each new year and may be part of an occasion, event or special issue – in the meantime we hope you enjoy the DartsWorld Awards 2025/26.
Watch closely on social media channels and here at the mothership dartsworld.com for the unveiling of the 9 inaugural winners . If you can’t wait then simply grab yourself a copy of February’s DARTSWORLD 593 and enjoy!
Checkout the new dedicated area for DartsWorld Awards were each years awards and their supporters will be detailed, summarised and stored.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
