PDC World Darts Championship 2020/21: Alexandra Palace will host as PDC confirms place and dates | Darts news

You will not miss a dart with Sky Sports thanks to the dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel which will return from December 15th to January 4th while Peter Wright defends the Sid Waddell Trophy won last year

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The World Darts Championship is almost here! It all starts on December 15th, live on Sky Sports

The PDC will begin planning for fans to return to darts in the UK after confirming Alexandra Palace as the home of the 2020-21 PDC World Darts Championship which begins on 15 December.

After a tumultuous sporting year, there had been doubts at various stages as to where the World Championships would take place, but Monday’s announcement confirms that the iconic North London venue will host the tournament for the 14th consecutive year.

UK government announcement of post-lockdown plans in England from 2 December onwards to allow fans to participate in sporting events in indoor and outdoor arenas means that PDC will now work with Alexandra Palace to explore the potential for fans to attend the event.

All ticket details should be announced in due course provided the event receives relevant approvals.

Ninety-six players will descend on Ally Pally, including reigning champion Peter Wright, world number 1 Michael van Gerwen and this year’s two women’s qualifiers Lisa Ashton and Deta Hedman, who will be eager to build on Fallon Sherrock’s momentous breakthrough. last year.

“While 2020 has been an uncertain and unprecedented year in so many ways, having the William Hill World Darts Championship on the horizon is fantastic for everyone involved in our sport.

“Monday’s announcement means we can step up our discussions with relevant bodies to hopefully hold the World Championship with a live UK crowd for the first time since March, which would be a huge boost for so many people. for which this event is a highlight of the year ”

Barry Hearn, president of the PDC

Sixteen days of darts will kick off on Tuesday 15 December with the traditional one-day evening session usually featuring the defending champion – the full schedule will be confirmed after the draw, which takes place on Thursday 3 December.

Sky Sports will be your home for the duration of the tournament, with the appropriate Sky Sports Darts channel that will return until January 4 to show all 28 sessions as well as archival footage and a number of special programs.

Players from around the world will compete for a £ 2.5 million prize pool, the prestigious Sid Waddell trophy and a £ 500,000 winner’s check.

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The first nine days of action will see matches in the first and second rounds, the best 32 players in the world who will advance to the second round and the first round with the 32 qualifiers of the ProTour Order of Merit that will clash with 32 international representatives.

After a three-day hiatus over the Christmas period, the action will resume on December 27 with the third and fourth rounds in four days between December 27 and December 30.

In a break from recent tradition, the quarter-finals rather than the final will take place on New Year’s Eve which will now be the culmination of a dramatic weekend featuring the semi-finals on Saturday 2nd January and the peak final on Sunday, 3rd January.

Lisa Ashton became the first woman to win a PDC Tour Card at Q-School in January of this year and will have her second PDC World Championship experience

“While 2020 has been an uncertain and unprecedented year in so many ways, having the William Hill World Darts Championship on the horizon is fantastic for everyone involved in our sport,” said PDC President Barry Hearn.

“We will have 28 sessions over 16 days in this year’s World Championship, and while some aspects of the event will naturally differ in the current climate, the action on the oche will be more sensational than ever.

“Our players have been outstanding during the difficult times of 2020 and I am delighted that they can end the year playing for our biggest prize in the world championship.

“We are also grateful for the continued support of our sponsors and partners, in particular William Hill, Alexandra Palace and Sky Sports, who will again be running their 24/7 Sky Sports Darts channel during the festive darts party.” .

In a year that has seen a string of new great champions, including Glen Durrant and Dimitri Van den Bergh, the race to be crowned world champion is hotter than ever as Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith aim to secure their maiden crown .

Deta Hedman will make his World Cup debut

Four-time Women’s World Champion Ashton has returned to the tournament for a second year and she will be joined in representing the women’s game by 60-year-old Hedman, who will become the sixth different woman to participate in the tournament after defeating Sherrock. Women in the inaugural series last month.

Sherrock made headlines around the world after beating Ted Evetts, followed by Mensur Suljovic before ending up against Chris Dobey and Ashton and Hedman will be looking to make their own story early in the tournament.

“We are delighted to once again show the PDC World Championship on our designated Sky Sports Darts channel.

It will be a different feeling this year to deliver the world famous Ally Pally vibe, but we are delighted to still be able to show the pinnacle of world darts and will do what we can to bring people home as close to home as possible. action for this festive sporty staple. ”

Georgina Faulkner, Director of Sky Sports Multisport

The field for the tournament will be confirmed after the peak of the season at the Players’ Championship Finals on Sunday 29 November and the last chance for many to qualify for the PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier event in Coventry on Monday 30 November.

PDC World Darts Championship coverage begins on Sky Sports Tuesday 15 December, with all the darts from each session until the final on Sunday 3 January.