Professional Darts: Board Height, Dart Weight, and Tournament Regulations

Luke Littler, who was the runner-up at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship in January, informed BBC Sport, “You don’t have to be good at maths to be good at darts.” The teenager gained widespread recognition at the beginning of the year by reaching the World Championship final at the age of just 16 years and 347 days. With assistance from Luke ‘the Nuke’, we have compiled answers to some of your most common darts inquiries. Players are typically observed using darts weighing between 18 and 26 grams. However, there are always exceptions. Ryan ‘Heavy Metal’ Searle is known for utilizing significantly heavier darts, weighing 32 grams. Players also do not consistently adhere to the same weight. Two-time world champion Peter Wright occasionally alters his darts, even within the course of a single tournament. Therefore, the choice of dart weight is largely a matter of personal preference, albeit with certain restrictions. The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) governs the PDC World Championship and publishes its rule book. This document specifies that darts cannot exceed 200mm in length or weigh more than 40 grams. The point (or tip) of the dart must not feature any grooves or ridges within 15mm of its end and cannot be wider than 2.5mm. Luke Littler, who reached the PDC World Championship final on his initial attempt in January, stated that he plays with a 23-gram dart. He mentioned having tried weights both above and below this, but found them to feel slightly too light or too heavy. His ‘Luke Littler Gen 1 Darts’ were manufactured exclusively for him by Target Darts. Littler conveyed that players primarily choose the dart weight based on what feels most comfortable. For professional tournaments, the dartboard is positioned at a fixed height of 1.73m (5ft 8in), measured from the floor to the center of the bullseye. The ’20’ segment is invariably located at the top of the dartboard. The oche, which is the line from behind which a player must throw, should be 2.37m (7ft 9.25in) from the board. The PDC World Darts Championship is an annual event held at Alexandra Palace in London. The DRA rule book stipulates that players are prohibited from consuming alcoholic drinks “outside the designated practice area.” This regulation has not always been in place. Prior to 1989, consuming alcohol on stage was permissible. The current rule book does not prevent players from drinking before an event. Numerous studies have demonstrated that even low levels of alcohol can impair motor skills and spatial reasoning. Despite this, some individuals suggest that small quantities can help manage tournament nerves. Littler does not engage in this practice, but other professional players may be seen licking their fingers before taking a throw. This action is more than a superstition. Adding moisture to one’s fingers, either by licking them or blowing air onto them, increases friction with the dart’s surface, potentially providing enhanced grip. This occurs when a player hits the exact combination of numbers on the board that brings their score to zero, thereby winning that leg. A total prize pot of £2.5 million is available at the PDC World Championships. A first-round appearance earns a player £7,500, with the prize money increasing incrementally per round. The winner will receive £500,000, and the runner-up £200,000. Players who achieve an elusive ‘nine darter’ – finishing a leg using the minimum number of nine darts – are awarded an additional £60,000. Both men and women are eligible to compete at the PDC World Championship. Players qualify via the ‘Order of Merit’, which comprises the official rankings calculated based on the amount of prize money won over a two-year period in ranking tournaments. There are separate ‘Order of Merit’ rankings for men and women. The top two players from the Women’s Series Order of Merit qualify for the PDC World Championship. For the 2024/25 tournament, Beau Greaves topped the women’s Order of Merit. However, Greaves chose to participate in the WDF Women’s World Championship instead, aiming to defend her title. Players who take part in the WDF Championship are subsequently ineligible to play in the PDC World Championship. Three-time WDF champion Beau Greaves has described it as “stupid” that women are unable to play in both, and has called for a separate PDC World Championship for women. PDC chief executive Matt Porter stated: “At present we do not plan to introduce a separate women’s World Championship; the Paddy Power World Darts Championship is open to all players and is a reward for successful players on the PDC Women’s Series and the Women’s World Matchplay winner.” “Our ProTour, Challenge Tour and Development Tour remain open to all players, and from 2025, players from the PDC Women’s Series will also get the chance to qualify for the Winmau World Masters and also compete in the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts in addition to free entry places on offer at the PDC Qualifying Schools.” Greaves’ withdrawal resulted in the qualification of Noa-Lynn van Leuven and Fallon Sherrock, ranked second and third respectively. Fallon Sherrock made history in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship. The Netherlands’ Van Leuven was the first transgender player to compete at the tournament.