World Darts Federation – Lakeside World Darts Championship 2024
The World Darts Federation (WDF) World Darts Championship returns to the famous Lakeside Country Venue to host the third WDF World Championships. Lakeside became the no.1 spot for World Darts from 1986 -2019 as it hosted the then British Darts Organisation (BDO) World Championships. A brief one-time excursion to the London O2 Arena didn't go down with the dart fans well, and following the demise of the BDO and the COVID lockdown, the WDF took over the event and returned the event to its rightful place, the Lakeside. Before Lakeside, the World Darts venue was the 'Heart of Midlands Nightclub' based in Nottingham, followed by the Stoke-on-Trent venue 'Jollies Club '.
Some of the most famous names in darts history have stepped to the oche at the Lakeside. Eric Bristow won the World title five times, and John Lowe MBE three times. However, the record for the most titles under the old BDO event goes to Trina Gulliver MBE, who won the event a staggering ten times. Paul Lim, at the age of 70, will also return to Lakeside in 2024. Paul will be the oldest player in the tournament and the only player to hit a perfect nine-dart leg in the then-BDO World Championship. In 1990, Paul collected £52,000 for this feat after beating Jack McKenna in the second round of the World Darts Championships. Paul narrowly miss a repeat of this feat in the 2018 PDC World Darts Championships while playing against Gary Anderson, missing double twelve to make history of being the only player to hit perfect legs on both sides of the dart organisations. Many fans will likely place a small wager on Paul to achieve a perfect nine-darter, as darts betting has become a significant part of the sport and sports sponsorship.
Players to look out for
The 2024 Lakeside World Championships will see more players than ever battle it out over several days to become the next Lakeside WDF World Champion.
The current men's WDF World Champion Andy Baetens will not return to defend his 2023 title as he won a two-year PDC tour card at the PDC Q-School in January 2024 and now plays on the PDC circuit of events. However, at the time of writing, it is a move that he may regret, as he has only won £23,000 in PDC tournament prize money and is listed at 93 by the PDC Order of Merit. Andy also hasn't qualified for the PDC World Darts Championships.
Beau Greaves will be returning to defend her WDF Women's World Title. After qualifying for both the WDF and the PDC World Championships, Beau has again declined the invitation to play in the PDC World Champions in favour of the all-female WDF World Championships. Beau is on top form and will be the odds-on favourite to become a three-time World Champion. But playing in the all-female event comes at a financial risk. If she wins the WDF World title, she will pocket £25,000. The runner-up receives £8,000, a semi-finalist £4,000, a quarter-finalist £2,000, and a last sixteen place £1,000. In the mixed PDC event, a first-round loser picks up £7,500. Beau is more than capable of beating a lot of her male counterparts, but she would need to win at least two rounds in the PDC event to equal the WDF Women's first prize of £25,000.
Beau has always made it clear that she prefers to play in all women's World Championship Events, even though she will be part of the PDC Grand Slam in early November 2024.
WDF World Championship Qualified Players
Players from across the globe have qualified for the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Darts Championships. Seeded players 1-16 in the Men's event and 1-8 in the Women's event enter the competition in round two. Danny Ports from Australia will be the No.1 Seed, but eyes will be on the former WDF World Champions Neil Duff from Northern Ireland, who is seeded No.2
The WDF seeding is based on a point system. WDF-sanctioned events are given a rating of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Event organisers obtain their event rating using the prize money they offer for an event. The WDF give a full breakdown of how the rating for each event is awarded. Some of the players do not travel widely and, therefore, have obtained their invite by winning qualifying events.
Prize Fund Breakdown
A total prize fund of £221.000 is on offer at the 2024 WDF World Darts Championships. £50,000 first prize for the Men and the Women's Championships, with £25,000 going to the winner. A full breakdown can be seen below.
| Prize Fund 2024 | Men | Women | Boy | Girl |
| Champion | £50,000 | £25,000 | £3,000 | £1,500 |
| Runner-Up | £16,000 | £8,000 | £1,500 | £1,000 |
| Semi-Finalist | £8,000 | £4,000 | £500 | £500 |
| Quarter-Finalist | £4,000 | £2,000 | - - - | - - - |
| Last 16 | £2,000 | £1,000 | - - - | - - - |
| Last 24 | - - - | £750 | - - - | - - - |
| Last 32 | £1,250 | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Last 48 | £750 | - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Total | £146,000 | £66,000 | £5,500 | £3,500 |
New Dartboard
The WDF recently announced a new dartboard sponsor for the Lakeside World Darts Championships. The Mission Samarai Infinity Dartbord. The same dartboard is currently used at the UK Country Championships. This board will be familiar to UK-based players but less so for others. The board has a top-quality blade construction with a blackened blade wire segment divider, which gives the board high segment visibility. I am sure this may be on some people's Christmas list.
Tickets, TV Broadcasting and Live Streaming
Tickets tend to sell out fast, so book now if you wish to be part of the spectacle. However, dart fans will be pleased to know the semi-finals and finals of the tournament will be broadcast via FREE to Air via Blaze TV channel (Freeview 64/Sky HD 164/Freesat 161/Virgin 174/Sky Glass 169/BLAZE App). Earlier rounds can be viewed via the WDF YouTube Channel.