Eight men. Eight stories. Eight cheques already inked for a guaranteed £100,000 before a dart is even thrown in the quarter-finals...

Alexandra Palace now falls silent as the darting world pauses to usher in 2026. On New Year’s Day, the lights blaze back on and the quarter-finals await

Dead-eyed. Unflinching. Channelling the spirit of his legendary Nottingham ancestor, Robin of Sherwood, demonstrating absurd accuracy.

So as the biggest tournament in darting history loomed into view, few were pencilling in the Glastonbury thrower as a dark horse. Fewer still were daring to whisper his name beyond Christmas. And yet here he stands, now staring down a colossal last-16 meeting with Josh Rock, with a World Championship quarter-final and a glistening £100,000 dangling tantalisingly within reach...

When it comes to dedication, sacrifice and relentless graft, few in the modern game can lace the boots of the 38-year-old. Alongside his wife Meaghan, Heta made the kind of emotionally seismic decision that separates dreamers from doers...

Ratajski has carried the Polish flag into arenas where it had rarely, if ever, been seen – and planted it there with authority

Standing in his way is Krzysztof Ratajski, with a place in the quarter-finals and a hefty £100,000 payday dangling temptingly within reach...