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BARRY HEARN has outlined his vision for the future of the World Darts Championship, which includes a broader lineup, increased prize money, and the possibility of relocating from Ally Pally.
The well-known British sports promoter views the growth of darts as one of his major accomplishments since recognizing its profitability and becoming PDC chairman in 2001.
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At 76, Hearn sees complacency in business as a significant challenge and aims for ongoing growth in the sport.
This year, darts has attracted more viewers than ever, largely due to the memorable Greatest Leg of Darts finale in the 2023 world championship and the Luke Littler phenomenon.
Hearn spoke to SunSport about his plans:
- The participant count will increase from 96 to 128 next year.
- With Sky Sports’ TV contract up for renewal, he may consider platforms like Discovery+ or DAZN.
- Other venues in London are under evaluation.
- The prize for the champion will rise from £500,000 to £1 million.
A record-breaking 4.8 million viewers watched the 2024 world final, where Luke Humphries defeated Littler 7-4. Hearn observes that television ratings have stayed strong throughout the year.
Sky Sports airs five major events, including the Worlds and Premier League, while ITV4 broadcasts other key competitions.
Hearn noted, “Darts has become a more lucrative business than my boxing activities, which are even backed by Saudi funding.
“I’m excited about the high demand for tickets, but I’m also cautious, as failing to consistently deliver could lead to fans losing interest. We are at a critical point now.
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“I need to dramatically increase the prize money. Is it possible to bring it to £1 million for the winner? I hope to achieve that next year, depending on how our television negotiations turn out.
“The challenge is that our global popularity in darts is growing rapidly. Many countries are asking, ‘Can we have one or two spots in the Worlds?’”
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“We are currently negotiating with Sky. If we can’t settle on a deal by January after the Worlds, we will have to explore other possibilities. Sky is understandably eager to maintain and grow its subscriber base.
“This year’s viewership has nearly doubled, largely thanks to Luke Littler.
“We feel the urgency to raise prize money. Originally set at £300,000, it has now surged to £20 million.
“Although we are still far behind golf, our global figures are significantly larger. Is it unrealistic to target £20-40 million in prize money over the next three to four years? I don’t think so.”
Expanding the Worlds to 128 participants would require eight extra matches and four additional days, thereby lengthening the current 16-day tournament.
Hearn prefers a Wimbledon-style flat draw, allowing all competitors to participate in the first round rather than having seeded players join later, and he is confident about the caliber of international entrants.
He stated, “Other regions have improved their standards and acknowledged their deficiencies, and they are eager to compete effectively without embarrassment.
“The quality of the qualifying rounds has significantly improved in recent years.”
Ally Pally hosted the Worlds for the first time in 2008 after transitioning from the Circus Tavern, which also serves as a strip club.
With sessions in the 3,300-capacity arena selling out every Christmas, Hearn envisions even greater attendance.
He stated, “While I probably wouldn’t move it out of London, I’d consider venues like Olympia or the ExCeL.
“We could adjust venue layouts to maximize seating. It ultimately hinges on costs.
“The appeal of darts is in accommodating around 3,000 fans, with an additional 500 for hospitality and guests.
“At Ally Pally, I have 3,000 for 28 sessions. I could easily accommodate 7,000 to 8,000 at ExCeL or Olympia, though at a higher price point.”
List of all-time Darts World Champions
BELOW is a chronological list of Darts World Champions.
The list does not include champions from before the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO champions.
This means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only mentioned once—his four BDO titles are not included, nor are any of Eric Bristow’s five BDO titles.
- 1994 – Dennis Priestley
- 1995 – Phil Taylor
- 1996 – Phil Taylor (2)
- 1997 – Phil Taylor (3)
- 1998 – Phil Taylor (4)
- 1999 – Phil Taylor (5)
- 2000 – Phil Taylor (6)
- 2001 – Phil Taylor (7)
- 2002 – Phil Taylor (8)
- 2003 – John Part
- 2004 – Phil Taylor (9)
- 2005 – Phil Taylor (10)
- 2006 – Phil Taylor (11)
- 2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
- 2008 – John Part (2)
- 2009 – Phil Taylor (12)
- 2010 – Phil Taylor (13)
- 2011 – Adrian Lewis
- 2012 – Adrian Lewis (2)
- 2013 – Phil Taylor (14)
- 2014 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2015 – Gary Anderson
- 2016 – Gary Anderson (2)
- 2017 – Michael van Gerwen (2)
- 2018 – Rob Cross
- 2019 – Michael van Gerwen (3)
- 2020 – Peter Wright
- 2021 – Gerwyn Price
- 2022 – Peter Wright (2)
- 2023 – Michael Smith
- 2024 – Luke Humphries
Most World Titles
- 14 – Phil Taylor
- 3 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2 – John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright
- 1 – Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries
