Overview
- The prize fund doubles to £5 million with £1 million to the champion, marking a major shift in the sport’s economics.
- Seeds no longer receive byes as all 128 players start in round one, and eight victories are now required to claim the title.
- The tournament opens Thursday at Alexandra Palace with defending champion and world No. 1 Luke Littler widely viewed as the frontrunner, running through January 3.
- Player reaction diverges, with Germany’s Max Hopp and Gabriel Clemens praising the growth while Gerwyn Price criticizes the payout balance and the new first-round requirement for seeds.
- This is the final year in the West Hall before a switch to the larger Great Hall that the PDC says will add roughly 70,000 tickets across the event, reflecting broader global reach that includes Kenya’s first participant.