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PDC World Masters

{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

{{about|the tournament organised by the PDC, called the World Masters from 2025|the tournament organised by the BDO and the WDF|World Masters (darts)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}

{{Infobox Darts Tournament

|tournament_name = PDC World Masters

|image = File:Marshall Arena Milton Keynes 6 July 2020 (cropped).jpg

|caption = The Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, where the tournament has been held since 2015

|venue = Marshall Arena

|location = Milton Keynes

|country = Scotland (2013–2014)
England (since 2015)

|establishment = 2013

|organisation = PDC

|format = Legs (2013–2024),
Sets (2025–)

|prizefund = £500,000 (2025)

|month_played = November (2013–14)
January/February (2015–present)

|final year=

|Current Champion = {{PDCFlag|Luke Humphries}}

|Final Champion =

}}

The PDC World Masters, known for sponsorship purposes as the Winmau World Masters and formerly known as simply The Masters, is a professional darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). The tournament was introduced in 2013 and has been held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England, since 2015. Starting from the 2025 edition, the tournament will feature the top 24 darts players according to the PDC Order of Merit, plus eight qualifiers from a preliminary round to complete a 32-player field.

History

The inaugural edition of The Masters, held in 2013, was won by Phil Taylor, who defeated Adrian Lewis 10–1 in the final.{{cite web |title=2013 PDC The Masters |url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/the-masters/2013 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Mastercaller}}{{Cite web |date=4 November 2013 |title=Masters: Phil Taylor thrashes Adrian Lewis in all-Stoke final |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/24804052 |access-date=10 January 2025 |website=BBC Sport}} James Wade won the following year by defeating Mervyn King 11–10 in the 2014 final.{{cite web |title=2014 PDC The Masters |url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/the-masters/2014 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Mastercaller}}{{Cite web |last=Pass |first=Stephen |date=2 November 2014 |title=Unibet Masters: James Wade comes from 9-2 down to beat Mervyn King in final |url=https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/9547233/unibet-masters-james-wade-comes-from-9-2-down-to-beat-mervyn-king-in-final |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Sky Sports}} Michael van Gerwen became the third different champion in three years when he defeated Raymond van Barneveld 11–6.{{cite web |title=2015 PDC The Masters |url=https://mastercaller.com/tournaments/the-masters/2015 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Mastercaller}}{{Cite web |date=2 February 2015 |title=Michael van Gerwen beats Van Barneveld to win first Masters title |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/31092634 |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=BBC Sport}}

In 2013 and 2014, the tournament took place in the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland and was played in early November. However, the tournament was moved to early February in 2015 and had a new venue at the Arena MK (renamed Marshall Arena in 2019) in Milton Keynes, England. The tournament has been held in late January/early February ever since.

In 2024, the PDC announced The Masters would get rebranded into the "Winmau World Masters" for the 2025 edition, emulating the World Masters tournament organised by the British Darts Organisation and later the World Darts Federation which was also sponsored by Winmau.{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Josh |date=28 October 2024 |title=Winmau World Masters to return as PDC event undergoes radical rebrand |url=https://www.pdc.tv/news/2024/10/28/winmau-world-masters-return-pdc-event-undergoes-radical-rebrand |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Professional Darts Corporation}}

Format

From 2013 to 2020, the tournament featured the Top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit, in a fixed draw (1 plays 16, 2 plays 15 and so on). The first round and the quarter-finals were played over best of 19 legs, the semi-finals and the final were played over best of 21 legs.

For the 2021 tournament, the participants increased from the Top 16 to the Top 24, with the Top 8 automatically going to the second round and the players ranked 9 to 24 playing in the first round over best of 11 legs.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Dave |date=5 January 2021 |title=Ladbrokes Masters expands to 24 players in 2021 |url=https://www.pdc.tv/news/2021/01/05/ladbrokes-masters-expands-24-players-2021 |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Professional Darts Corporation}}

From the 2025 tournament, the field expanded to 32 players, with the Top 16 being seeded in the first round and drawn to play the players ranked 17 to 24 and eight more qualifiers. The eight qualifiers are determined through a preliminary round held the day before the main tournament, featuring the remaining PDC Tour Card holders and players from the PDC's affiliated tours. The 2025 tournament will also see the introduction of set play, with all sets being played to the best of three legs.{{Cite web |date=21 January 2025 |title=Winmau World Masters darts: Schedule, draw, results, format as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries headline 2025 edition |url=https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/13293835/winmau-world-masters-darts-schedule-draw-results-format-as-luke-littler-luke-humphries-headline-2025-edition |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=Sky Sports}}

Masters finals

class="wikitable"

! rowspan=2 | Year

! rowspan=2 | Champion {{small|(average in final)}}

! rowspan=2 | Score

! rowspan=2 | Runner-up {{small|(average in final)}}

! colspan=3 | Prize money

! rowspan=2 | Sponsor

! rowspan=2 | Venue

Total

! Champion

! {{nowrap|Runner-up}}

colspan=9 style="text-align: center;| The Masters
2013

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Phil Taylor {{small|{{color|dimgray|(108.50)}}}}

| 10–1 (l)

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Lewis {{small|{{color|dimgray|(100.03)}}}}

| rowspan=2 align="center" | £160,000

| rowspan=2 align="center" | £50,000

| rowspan=2 align="center" | £20,000

| Coral

| rowspan=2|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SCO}} Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh}}

2014

| {{flagicon|ENG}} James Wade {{small|{{color|dimgray|(91.39)}}}}

| {{nowrap|11–10}} (l)

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Mervyn King {{small|{{color|dimgray|(92.15)}}}}

| rowspan=5 | Unibet

2015

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen {{small|{{color|dimgray|(112.49)}}}}}}

| 11–6 (l)

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld {{small|{{color|dimgray|(96.13)}}}}}}

| rowspan=6 align="center" | £200,000

| rowspan=8 align="center" | £60,000

| rowspan=8 align="center" | £25,000

| rowspan=11|{{flagicon|ENG}} Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
{{small|(known as Arena MK until 2018)}}

2016

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen {{small|{{color|dimgray|(98.94)}}}}}}

| 11–6 (l)

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Chisnall {{small|{{color|dimgray|(96.71)}}}}

2017

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen {{small|{{color|dimgray|(109.42)}}}}}}

| 11–7 (l)

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson {{small|{{color|dimgray|(103.58)}}}}

2018

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen {{small|{{color|dimgray|(105.85)}}}}}}

| 11–9 (l)

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld {{small|{{color|dimgray|(100.55)}}}}}}

2019

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen {{small|{{color|dimgray|(99.82)}}}}}}

| 11–5 (l)

| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} James Wade {{small|{{color|dimgray|(87.44)}}}}}}

| BetVictor

2020

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Peter Wright {{small|{{color|dimgray|(95.01)}}}}

| 11–10 (l)

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Smith {{small|{{color|dimgray|(89.71)}}}}

| rowspan=3 | Ladbrokes

2021

| {{flagicon|WAL}} Jonny Clayton {{small|{{color|dimgray|(104.10)}}}}

| 11–8 (l)

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Mervyn King {{small|{{color|dimgray|(94.95)}}}}

| rowspan=2 | £220,000

2022

| {{PDCFlag|Joe Cullen}} {{small|{{color|dimgray|(96.89)}}}}

| 11–9 (l)

| {{PDCFlag|Dave Chisnall}} {{small|{{color|dimgray|(90.23)}}}}

2023

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Dobey {{small|{{color|dimgray|(94.05)}}}}

| 11–7 (l)

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Cross {{small|{{color|dimgray|(90.20)}}}}

| rowspan=2 align="center" |£275,000

| rowspan=2 align="center" |£65,000

| rowspan=2 align="center" |£30,000

| rowspan=2|Cazoo

2024

|{{Flagicon|ENG}} Stephen Bunting {{small|{{color|dimgray|(102.50)}}}}

| 11–7 (l)

|{{Flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen {{small|{{color|dimgray|(98.27)}}}}

colspan=9 style="text-align: center;| World Masters
2025

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Humphries {{small|{{color|dimgray|(100.42)}}}}

| 6–5 (s)

| {{flagicon|WAL}} Jonny Clayton {{small|{{color|dimgray|(98.25)}}}}

| align="center" | £500,000

| align="center" | £100,000

| align="center" | £50,000

| Winmau

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes

Records and statistics

As of 2025, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall are the only players to appear in all 13 editions of the Masters.

{{updated|2 February 2025.}}

=Total finalist appearances=

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank

!Player

!Nationality

!Won

!Runner-up

!Finals

!Appearances

rowspan="1" |1

|{{sort name|Michael van|Gerwen}}

|{{flagicon|NED}} Netherlands

|align=center|5

|align=center|1

|align=center|6

|align=center|13

rowspan="2" |2

|{{sort name|Jonny|Clayton}}

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales

|align=center|1

|align=center|1

|align=center|2

|align=center|7

{{sort name|James|Wade}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|1

|align=center|1

|align=center|2

|align=center|13

rowspan="6" |4

|{{sort name|Stephen|Bunting}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|7

{{sort name|Joe|Cullen|dab=darts player}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|7

{{sort name|Chris|Dobey}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|4

{{sort name|Luke|Humphries}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|4

{{sort name|Phil|Taylor|dab=darts player}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|5

{{sort name|Peter|Wright|dab=darts player}}

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|13

rowspan="3" |10

|{{sort name|Dave|Chisnall}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|0

|align=center|2

|align=center|2

|align=center|13

{{sort name|Mervyn|King|dab=darts player}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|0

|align=center|2

|align=center|2

|align=center|5

{{sort name|Raymond van|Barneveld}}

|{{flagicon|NED}} Netherlands

|align=center|0

|align=center|2

|align=center|2

|align=center|6

rowspan="4" |13

|{{sort name|Gary|Anderson|dab=darts player}}

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|1

|align=center|10

{{sort name|Rob|Cross}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|1

|align=center|8

{{sort name|Adrian|Lewis}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|1

|align=center|8

{{sort name|Michael|Smith|dab=darts player}}

|{{flagicon|ENG}} England

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|1

|align=center|10

  • Active players are shown in bold
  • Only players who reached the final are included
  • In the event of identical records, players are sorted in alphabetical order by family name

=Champions by country=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Country

!Players

!Total

!First title

!Last title

align="left"|{{flag|England}}

|6

|6

|2013

|2025

align="left"|{{flag|Netherlands}}

|1

|5

|2015

|2019

align="left"|{{flag|Scotland}}

|1

|1

|2020

|2020

align="left"|{{flag|Wales}}

|1

|1

|2021

|2021

=High averages=

class="wikitable sortable"

!colspan=5|Masters highest one-match averages

Average

!Player

!Year (+ round)

!Opponent

!Result(l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.

112.77

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Jonny Clayton

|2025, first round

|{{flagicon|GER}} Martin Schindler

|3–1 (s)

112.49

|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|2015, final

|{{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld

|11–6 (l)

112.32

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Cross

|2023, second round

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson

|10–6 (l)

112.20

|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|2016, first round

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Stephen Bunting

|10–1 (l)

111.17

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson

|2023, second round

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Cross

|6–10 (l)

111.14

|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|2018, quarter-final

|{{flagicon|ENG}} James Wade

|10–2 (l)

110.28

|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|2015, quarter-final

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Chisnall

|10–9 (l)

110.05

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Phil Taylor

|2014, first round

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Wes Newton

|10–4 (l)

109.74

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson

|2017, first round

|{{flagicon|NED}} Benito van de Pas

|10–3 (l)

109.42

|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|2017, final

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson

|11–7 (l)

class="wikitable sortable"

!colspan=5|Masters highest one-match losing averages

Average

!Player

!Year (+ round)

!Opponent

!Result

111.17

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson

|2023, second round

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Cross

|6–10 (l)

108.50

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Littler

|2025, quarter-final

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Jonny Clayton

|2–4 (s)

108.09

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Chisnall

|2015, quarter-final

|{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|9–10 (l)

106.95

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Lewis

|2014, quarter-final

|{{flagicon|ENG}} James Wade

|6–10 (l)

106.48

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Chisnall

|2018, first round

|{{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld

|9–10 (l)

class="wikitable sortable"

!colspan=4|Different players with a 100+ match average (Updated 02/02/25)

Player

!Total

!Highest Av.

!Year (+ round)

{{flagicon|NED}} Michael van Gerwen

|20

|112.49

|2015, final

{{flagicon|ENG}} Phil Taylor

|10

|110.05

|2014, first round

{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Anderson

|9

|111.17

|2023, second round

{{flagicon|WAL}} Jonny Clayton

|8

|112.77

|2025, first round

{{flagicon|SCO}} Peter Wright

|8

|104.72

|2021, quarter-finals

{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Chisnall

|6

|109.26

|2024, first round

{{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld

|6

|103.51

|2018, quarter-finals

{{flagicon|ENG}} Adrian Lewis

|5

|107.93

|2013, quarter-finals

{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Smith

|5

|105.49

|2022, second round

{{flagicon|AUT}} Mensur Suljović

|4

|106.12

|2019, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Stephen Bunting

|4

|102.50

|2024, final

{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Cross

|3

|112.32

|2023, second round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Littler

|3

|108.50

|2025, quarter-final

{{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Cullen

|3

|106.30

|2022, second round

{{flagicon|ENG}} James Wade

|3

|105.56

|2014, semi-finals

{{flagicon|BEL}} Dimitri Van den Bergh

|3

|105.31

|2022, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Mervyn King

|3

|101.97

|2021, first round

{{flagicon|AUS}} Simon Whitlock

|2

|105.90

|2021, second round

{{flagicon|WAL}} Gerwyn Price

|2

|105.60

|2021, quarter-finals

{{flagicon|GER}} Martin Schindler

|2

|105.05

|2025, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Humphries

|2

|104.24

|2025, quarter-finals

{{flagicon|AUS}} Damon Heta

|2

|102.96

|2024, second round

{{flagicon|BEL}} Kim Huybrechts

|1

|106.43

|2013, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Nathan Aspinall

|1

|103.77

|2025, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Ian White

|1

|101.78

|2022, first round

{{flagicon|POR}} José de Sousa

|1

|101.29

|2021, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Andrew Gilding

|1

|101.26

|2025, first round

{{flagicon|ENG}} Justin Pipe

|1

|100.40

|2014, first round

{{flagicon|NED}} Vincent van der Voort

|1

|100.14

|2016, first round

{{reflist|group=N}}

Media coverage

The Masters is broadcast by ITV4 in the United Kingdom, DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and Viaplay in the Netherlands.{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Scott |date=4 December 2024 |title=2025 Darts Calendar: Every major televised tournament, dates, results and where to watch |url=https://www.planetsport.com/news/darts-2025-calendar-every-major-televised-tournament-dates-pdc-results-and-where-to-watch |publisher=PlanetSport |access-date=31 December 2024}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/TournamentDetails.aspx?TournKey=1477 Masters at Darts Database]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20150118032833/http://www.pdc.tv/the-masters The Masters page on the PDC website]

{{Masters (darts)}}

{{PDC Darts Tournaments}}

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