Luke Littler will be chasing a maiden title when the 2026 PDC season kicks off with the World Masters in Milton Keynes.
The tournament, which runs from January 29 to February 1, is one of two major televised events that the world champion must win to complete a clean sweep of darts honours.
Defending champion Luke Humphries and World Darts Championship runner-up Gian van Veen, making his tournament debut, lead the charge to deny Littler more glory.
Last year’s runner-up Jonny Clayton, who defeated Littler in the quarter-finals, is joined by fellow Premier League stars Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price.
World Darts Championship semi-finalists Gary Anderson and Ryan Searle have been named among the 24 pre-qualified players.
Eight additional players who qualify from the preliminary rounds, which take place on January 28, will join the world’s top 24 to complete the 32-player field vying for a share of the £500,000 prize pool at Arena MK.
2026 World Masters – Pre-Qualified Players
- 1. Luke Littler
- 2. Luke Humphries
- 3. Gian van Veen
- 4. Michael van Gerwen
- 5. Jonny Clayton
- 6. Gary Anderson
- 7. Stephen Bunting
- 8. Ryan Searle
- 9. Josh Rock
- 10. Danny Noppert
- 11. James Wade
- 12. Gerwyn Price
- 13. Chris Dobey
- 14. Nathan Aspinall
- 15. Martin Schindler
- 16. Ross Smith
- 17. Damon Heta
- 18. Jermaine Wattimena
- 19. Mike De Decker
- 20. Rob Cross
- 21. Luke Woodhouse
- 22. Dave Chisnall
- 23. Daryl Gurney
- 24. Ryan Joyce
2026 World Masters – Schedule
Wednesday 28 January (12.00)
Preliminary rounds
Thursday 29 January (7pm)
Round 1 x 8
Friday 30 January (7pm)
Round 1 x 8
Saturday 31 January
Afternoon session (1pm)
Round two x4
Evening session (19.00)
Round two x4
Sunday, February 1
Afternoon session (1pm)
Quarterfinals
Evening session (19.00)
Semifinals
Final
Format
All matches at the 2026 World Masters will be played using the best-of-three-leg set format synonymous with the tournament. Tiebreaks are not used in any set.
First round
Best of five sets, best of three legs per set
Second round
Best of seven sets, best of three legs per set
Quarterfinals
Best of seven sets, best of three legs per set
Semifinals
Best of nine sets, best of three legs per set
Final
Best of 11 sets, best of three legs per set
Prize money
- Winner – £100,000
- Other – £50,000
- Semi-finalists – £30,000
- Quarter finalists – £17,500
- Round two losers – £10,000
- Losers in Round 1 – £5,000
- Preliminary round L16 – £2,500
- Preliminary round L32 – £1,000
- Preliminary round L64 – £750
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will defend his title and you can watch the action every Thursday from February to May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sports with NU.