2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship | |||
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Tournament information | |||
Dates | 15 December 2023 – 3 January 2024 | ||
Venue | Alexandra Palace | ||
Location | London, England | ||
Organisation(s) | Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) | ||
Format | Sets Final – first to 7 sets | ||
High checkout | |||
Champion(s) | |||
Luke Humphries | |||
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The 2024 PDC World Darts Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship) was a professional darts event that took place at Alexandra Palace in London, England, from 15 December 2023 to 3 January 2024. It was the 31st World Darts Championship to be organised by the Professional Darts Corporation.
Michael Smith was the defending champion, having defeated Michael van Gerwen 7–4 in the 2023 final.[1] Smith lost 4–0 to Chris Dobey in the fourth round.[2] For the first time since the 2006 event, all four semi-finalists (Rob Cross, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Scott Williams) were English. For the first time since the 2010 event, two unseeded players (Littler and Williams) reached the final four.[3]
The third seed Luke Humphries won his first World Championship title, defeating 16-year-old debutant Luke Littler 7–4 in the final. He also became world number 1 for the first time in his career. The event sponsor pledged to donate £1,000 to the charity Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 scored during the tournament. The tournament set a new record for the most 180s achieved (914), raising £914,000 for the charity, which was ultimately rounded to £1,000,000.[4] Humphries scored the most 180s at the event (73), winning the inaugural Ballon d'Art trophy for the achievement.[5]
Steve Beaton made a record-extending 33rd consecutive and final World Championship appearance, but lost in the second round to Daryl Gurney. After 28 years with the PDC, referee Russ Bray retired at the end of the tournament after officiating his last televised ranking match in the world final.