2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship - Evening Session (3x Third Round Matches)

The Paddy Power World Darts Championship returns to Alexandra Palace on 28 December for an evening session featuring three third-round matches. It's the business end of the tournament, where the field has already been halved and the pressure is starting to mount.

For context, this is the world's biggest darts tournament: 128 players competing across 20 days for the Sid Waddell Trophy and £5m in prize money, with £1m going to the winner. The field plays six rounds before the final, and this is the fourth year in a row Paddy Power has sponsored the event. By the third round, the early-round nerves have settled and the heavy hitters are starting to thin out the pack.

Luke Littler returns to defend his title, having routed Gian van Veen in last season's final. The big question this year is whether 'the Nuke' can go for a three-peat and emulate Phil Taylor. He's not the only big name in the mix, though: three-time champion Michael van Gerwen and world number one Luke Humphries are among the top contenders. By the time the third round rolls around, the bracket is narrowing, and you're seeing the players who've survived the first two cuts go head-to-head.

Three matches in one evening means a long session of darts, and since it's the third round, the stakes are high—win here and you're one step closer to the quarter-finals. If you're heading up to Ally Pally, it's the evening session on 28 December, with three matches on the bill.