The 2025 Paddy Power PDC World Championship gets underway on Sunday, and we’ve got four tips to dive into at Ally Pally.
Sky Sports Darts host Emma Paton is on duty with four of the best outright picks, plus a few bold calls included!
WHEN: 15th December – 3rd January
WHERE: Alexandra Palace, London
TV: Sky Sports
Winner: Luke Littler
Who is going to lift the Sid Waddell trophy on January 3rd? Well, I’m not going for a surprise because I’ll take Luke “The Nuke” Littler, who has had just a sensational debut year in the PDC. Ten titles this season, three of them big ones in the Premier League, the Grand Slam and the World Series Finals, and throughout the last 12 months he’s won 77% of his matches.
Not bad, is it?
He’s produced show stopping stuff week after week, he’s been so brilliant to watch.
Obviously he had the fairy tale run to the final last year, but this time around he’s more equipped to go that one step further, and pick up the title at the beginning of the January.
To reach the final: Michael van Gerwen
Picking the runner-up is much harder. They have to come from the bottom half of the draw, if Littler wins it. It looks quite open and an big opportunity for someone. Gary Anderson is favourite to come through it but I’m going for the three-time world champ Michael van Gerwen.
He’s only won four titles this year. I say “only” in comparison to what Littler has done, and he has not had any of those big titles this year.
I think that means he’ll be more energised and motivated to have a really good run – and maybe to shut some people up and prove some people wrong – as all the talk leading up to the World Championship has been about Littler and World No.1 and defending champion Luke Humphries.
I mentioned Littler’s 2024 winning percentage. Van Gerwen’s is around 68% and averages around 97 for the season, which is a couple of points lower than the likes of Littler and Humphries, but I think he’ll be ultra-focused on having an incredible run at this year’s event, so I’ll take him to be the runner-up.
Outside Pick: Chris Dobey
The bottom half is where a surprise could come from. Specifically, the third quarter of the draw. Yes, it has the likes of Michael Smith in it – a former world champion, World No.2 – but he hasn’t been at his consistent best this year, so I’m going for someone else in this section of the draw.
“Hollywood” Chris Dobey has picked up three titles this season – they’ve all come on the floor rather than the big TV stage, but he has done that previously as a former Masters winner. He’s also played in the Premier League before.
Like Van Gerwen, he’s averaging around 97, so if things can click for him then he’s one to watch.
Most 180s: Luke Littler
I’ve gone for Littler to win the tournament, so I’m going for him to throw the most 180s as well. He’s one of the biggest scorers on the tour anyway, so I’ll take him to pick up the Ballon d’Art this year too.
Emma Paton’s Top Darts Tips
Winner: Luke Littler
To reach the final: Michael van Gerwen
Outside Pick: Chris Dobey
Most 180s: Luke Littler
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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