The Future of the PDC World Championship - Expansion to 128 confirmed for 2025/6

[Rogg]

If you have thoughts on the possible future structure/location of the Worlds.

There was a M8 Porter interview in The Standard today. I've posted a bit of it here.

It arguably confirms that this winter's Worlds will be the last in its current format of 96 players at Ally Pally.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/darts- ... 78731.html



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The unprecedented interest has raised debate over whether the Palace’s West Hall, with a capacity of 3,200, remains a suitable venue. The Great Hall next door holds more than double that, but is used for behind-the-scenes operations, and Porter insists swapping halls is not an option.

With the PDC “very reluctant to leave Alexandra Palace”, an extended schedule appears likely.

“Increasing the size of the field is something that’s at the front of our minds at the moment,” Porter says.

“If we can increase the number of sessions, that will help us to satisfy demand. The logical progression is to go from 96 players to 128 players. It’s not a case of saying, ‘It’s broken, we need to fix it’. It’s a case of saying, ‘It’s big, how can we make it bigger’?”

[Emulsfier]

A 128 field sounds awful. It will 100% happen.

[The Thorn]

Yeah I'd rather watch a Lakeside with 64 men and 32 women

Complete greed

[Rogg]

A 128 field sounds awful. It will 100% happen.

It definitely will.

We could have fun guessing how the extra 32 gets sourced.

[Emulsfier]

A 128 field sounds awful. It will 100% happen.

It definitely will.

We could have fun guessing how the extra 32 gets sourced.

32 more Germans for fairness.

[Rogg]

DFR will be beautiful in this thread, I can sense it.

[TheMalteseDart]

Fuck sake I love jobbers but 96 is perfect in the current landscape. 128 will reward utter failure

Even with 96 there’s a lot of international qualifiers you know are gonna get spanked 3-0 in sets

[oche balboa]

128 players will happen, We all knew it. And realistically 96 is a bit naff as its creates byes for the top 32. So 128 would increase a likelihood of an upset, The tickets will sell due to it being a xmas party for a lot of people. 64 is the ideal number - 128 is too many but the PDC aren't going to cut the field

Where they get the other 32 from is anyone's guess. I hope there will be more Pro Tour places but there are 68 already so it would make sense to go overseas. Obviously the WDF will suffer has a result of this. WDF should get through this by renaming their World Championship to Earth Championship or Universal Championship.

They don't need to leave Ally Pally really.

[The Thorn]

Fuck sake I love jobbers but 96 is perfect in the current landscape. 128 will reward utter failure

Even with 96 there’s a lot of international qualifiers you know are gonna get spanked 3-0 in sets

Leave Norman Madhoo alone

[Greipel]

More Eastern European spots for start.

[Cooking with Sandra]

Can never have enough jobbers.

[Randall]

A bigger venue to get more people in for the business end ie surely preferable to more jobbers

[Cooking with Sandra]

Can't see them moving anytime soon.

[sennafan24]

128 players will happen, We all knew it. And realistically 96 is a bit naff as its creates byes for the top 32. So 128 would increase a likelihood of an upset, The tickets will sell due to it being a xmas party for a lot of people. 64 is the ideal number - 128 is too many but the PDC aren't going to cut the field

Where they get the other 32 from is anyone's guess. I hope there will be more Pro Tour places but there are 68 already so it would make sense to go overseas. Obviously the WDF will suffer has a result of this. WDF should get through this by renaming their World Championship to Earth Championship or Universal Championship.

They don't need to leave Ally Pally really.

Agreed with the bolded. Although I did not mind the early rounds last year, the tournament is already too long for my tastes.

I suspect the first round games will also be best of 5 sets rather than 3 sets in order to limit upsets.

[sennafan24]

A bigger venue to get more people in for the business end ie surely preferable to more jobbers

Any ideas for alternative venues?

[The Thorn]

4 women coming

[tungsten tossers]

Fuck sake I love jobbers but 96 is perfect in the current landscape. 128 will reward utter failure

Even with 96 there’s a lot of international qualifiers you know are gonna get spanked 3-0 in sets

+1

[The Thorn]

Fuck sake I love jobbers but 96 is perfect in the current landscape. 128 will reward utter failure

Even with 96 there’s a lot of international qualifiers you know are gonna get spanked 3-0 in sets

If you add more internationals you could have 2 of them playing

Imagine Alexis Toylo v Leonard Gates or Darius Labanauskas v Jesus Noguera

Classic first round battles

[Safc]

A bigger venue to get more people in for the business end ie surely preferable to more jobbers

Any ideas for alternative venues?

Lakeside

Once it gets its extension and tube line

[Rogg]

Fuck sake I love jobbers but 96 is perfect in the current landscape. 128 will reward utter failure

Even with 96 there’s a lot of international qualifiers you know are gonna get spanked 3-0 in sets

If you add more internationals you could have 2 of them playing

Imagine Alexis Toylo v Leonard Gates or Darius Labanauskas v Jesus Noguera

Classic first round battles

Or have 64 seeds.