Get ready for ten days of top-tier darts action! The 2026 WDF World Championships at the iconic Lakeside Country Club are set to run from Friday, November 27th to Sunday, December 6th. This highly anticipated tournament will feature a stellar lineup of global talent, including defending Women’s World Champion Deta Hedman and top Open seed Mitchell Lawrie, alongside exciting newcomers and seasoned pros. Expect thrilling matches from day one, with key players like Jeff Smith, David Davies, and emerging stars battling for glory. All sessions will be broadcast live, with S4C joining the coverage from December 2nd. Don’t miss the drama as players compete for four coveted titles, even amidst unique challenges posed by overlapping PDC qualifiers.
The Countdown Begins: Tournament Overview
The 2026 WDF World Championships promise a spectacular display of darts, bringing together the world’s best players to compete for glory at the legendary Lakeside Country Club. This year’s tournament, spanning from Friday, November 27th to Sunday, December 6th, is packed with intense competition across four categories: Men’s Open, Women’s, Youth Boys, and Youth Girls.
Key Dates & Match Highlights
Opening Weekend: November 27th – 30th
- Friday, November 27th: The championship kicks off with an all-male lineup. The highlight promises to be a clash between former Modus Super Series champion Jeff Smith and 2025 Red Dragon Champion of Champions winner David Davies. Other exciting matches include Ryusei Azemoto vs. Petri Rasmus, and a battle between Harry Lane and Declan Bailey, with the winner earning the right to face top seed Mitchell Lawrie in round two.
- Saturday, November 28th: Women’s action begins with Aurora Fochesato vs. Steph Clarke, followed by Lorraine Hyde vs. Mayumi Ouchi. The evening session introduces the first seeded male players, including Paul Krohne (3), Moreno Blom (7), and Corne Groeneveld (11).
- Sunday, November 29th: Sunday afternoon features James Beeton against the winner of Rasmus vs. Azemoto, alongside the return of fan-favorite Leonard Gates. The evening session is a must-watch, headlined by the arrival of reigning WDF Women’s World Champion Deta Hedman (1). Also in action are Nicole Regnaud (8) and two explosive open first-round matches: Lewis Gurney vs. Ron Meulenkamp and Haupai Puha battles Tomoya Goto.
- Monday, November 30th: Rising star Kaya Baysal, seeded 8th in the Open and 2nd in the Youth category, makes his first appearance. Later, Matthew Edgar (6) awaits the winner of the Puha vs. Goto match.
Mid-Week Mayhem: December 1st – 3rd
- Tuesday, December 1st: With all first-round matches concluded, every game today will feature a seeded player. Keep an eye out for the first appearances of Jenson Walker (2) and Jarno Bottenberg (12) in the Open event, plus women’s seeds Paula Jackling (6) and Aileen de Graaf (7).
- Wednesday, December 2nd: A thrilling day as Mitchell Lawrie, top seed in both Open and Youth events, makes his highly anticipated return. The card also features fellow Scots Ross Montgomery (10) and Scott Robertson (16), 2022 champion Neil Duff, and Women’s second seed Rhian O’Sullivan.
- Thursday, December 3rd: This is a pivotal day you won’t want to miss! Fifteen intense matches across two sessions will decide the quarter-final lineups for all four titles, setting the stage for the final weekend.
Championship Weekend: December 4th – 6th
- Friday, December 4th: The tension builds with the highly anticipated quarter-finals for all categories.
- Saturday, December 5th: Prepare for nail-biting finishes in the semi-finals.
- Sunday, December 6th: The climax of the tournament arrives with the Grand Finals kicking off at 14:00 GMT, where champions will be crowned.
Broadcast Information & How to Watch
You won’t miss a single dart! All sessions of the 2026 WDF World Championship will be broadcast live on YouTube. From Wednesday, December 2nd onwards, S4C will also provide live broadcast coverage of all sessions, bringing the action to an even wider audience.
Important Tournament Rules: Player Withdrawals
A significant and unprecedented challenge for the 2026 WDF World Championships is the overlap with ongoing PDC World Darts Championship qualifiers. This means some players might qualify for the prestigious PDC event at Alexandra Palace even after the Lakeside tournament has begun. The WDF is actively taking proactive steps to protect the integrity of their tournament and its broadcast offering, ensuring fair play and a high-quality spectacle despite these unique circumstances.
Here’s how player withdrawals will be handled:
- Before Tournament Start (After Draw): If a player withdraws, their invitation will be extended to the next highest-ranked player from the WDF World Championship 2026 Race Table at the conclusion of the 2026 WDF season. This incoming player will directly replace the withdrawn player in the draw. However, if the incoming player replaces a seeded player and is defeated in their first match, they will only be eligible for first-round prize money and ranking points.
- After Tournament Start: Should any player withdraw once the tournament has begun, they shall not be replaced, and their opponent will receive a bye into the next round.
- Special Exception (PDC South-East Europe Qualifier): An important exception applies to any player(s) qualifying for the PDC World Championships through the South-East Europe Qualifier on November 28th. These specific player(s) will be replaced by the highest-ranked available player from the relevant WDF Race Ranking Table, ensuring the integrity of the draw.
Secure Your Spot: Ticket Information
Don’t miss the chance to experience the electrifying atmosphere live! Tickets for the 2026 WDF Lakeside World Championships are still available to purchase online via Eventbrite.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
