# PDC World Darts Championship 2018

Het PDC William Hill World Darts Championship 2018 was de 25ste editie van het World Darts Championship dat georganiseerd wordt door de Professional Darts Corporation. Het toernooi begon op 14 december 2017 en werd traditiegetrouw gehouden in het Alexandra Palace te Londen. De finale was op 1 januari.
De Nederlander Michael van Gerwen was de titelverdediger. Hij werd in de halve finale uitgeschakeld door de Engelsman Rob Cross. De 27-jarige debutant Cross won het toernooi door in de finale de afzwaaiende Phil Taylor met 7-2 te verslaan.

## Opzet en gekwalificeerde spelers

Het deelnemersveld bestond uit 72 spelers. De top-32 spelers van de PDC Order of Merit op 27 november 2017 (na de Players Championship Finals) plaatsten zich direct voor het toernooi.
Via de Pro Tour Order of Merit kwalificeerden de zestien hoogste niet-gekwalificeerde spelers van de PDC Pro Tour 2017 zich.
Ook werden er tickets vergeven door middel van een kwalificatietoernooi in Wigan, dat werd gehouden op 27 november 2017. De nummer één werd direct tot de eerste ronde toegelaten, de andere drie tot de voorronde.
Daarnaast plaatsten achttien andere internationale spelers zich via verschillende kwalificatiecriteria.
Deelnemers:

### Order of Merit

    Eerste ronde
* Michael van Gerwen
* Peter Wright
* Gary Anderson
* Daryl Gurney
* Mensur Suljović
* Phil Taylor
* Adrian Lewis
* Dave Chisnall
* Raymond van Barneveld
* Simon Whitlock
* James Wade
* Jelle Klaasen
* Michael Smith
* Benito van de Pas
* Alan Norris
* Gerwyn Price
* Ian White
* Kim Huybrechts
* Joe Cullen
* Rob Cross
* Stephen Bunting
* Mervyn King
* Darren Webster
* Kyle Anderson
* Steve Beaton
* Cristo Reyes
* Justin Pipe
* Robert Thornton
* John Henderson
* Mark Webster
* Jonny Clayton
* James Wilson

### Pro Tour

    Eerste ronde
* Richard North
* Vincent van der Voort
* Christian Kist
* Ronny Huybrechts
* Jermaine Wattimena
* Steve West
* Zoran Lerchbacher
* Dimitri Van den Bergh
* Jan Dekker
* Keegan Brown
* James Richardson
* Peter Jacques
* Martin Schindler
* Chris Dobey
* Steve Lennon
* Kevin Painter

### PDPA

    Eerste ronde
   * Ted Evetts
    Voorronde
   * Brendan Dolan
   * Jamie Lewis
    Internationale kwalificatie
    Eerste ronde
* Toni Alcinas
* Marko Kantele
* William O'Connor
* Devon Petersen
* Diogo Portela
* Krzysztof Ratajski
* Kim Viljanen
    Voorronde
* Seigo Asada
* Willard Bruguier
* Cody Harris
* Luke Humphries
* Kai Fan Leung
* Paul Lim
* Alan Ljubić
* Gordon Mathers
* Kevin Münch
* Kenny Neyens
* Aleksandr Oreshkin
* Bernie Smith
* Jeff Smith
* Zong Xiao Chen

## Prijzengeld

De prijzenpot van het PDC World Darts Championship 2018 bedroeg £ 1.800.000, een verhoging van £ 150.000 vergeleken met de vorige editie.
Verdeling prijzengeld:
| Plaats (aantal spelers) | Plaats (aantal spelers) | Prijzengeld (Totaal: £ 1.800.000) |
| Winnaar | (1) | £ 400.000 |
| Runner-up | (1) | £ 170.000 |
| Halve finale | (2) | £ 85.000 |
| Kwartfinale | (4) | £ 40.000 |
| Laatste 16 | (8) | £ 27.000 |
| Laatste 32 | (16) | £ 18.500 |
| Laatste 64 | (32) | £ 11.000 |
| Voorronde | (8) | £ 4.500 |
| 9-darter | (0) | £ 20.000 |

## Schema
### Voorronde

In de voorronde werd gespeeld volgens best of three sets. Wedstrijden werden gespeeld voorafgaand aan de partijen waarin spelers werden ingedeeld in de eerste ronde.
| Gem. | Speler | Score | Speler | Gem. |
| (95.39) | Jeff Smith | 2 – 0 | Luke Humphries | (88.56) |
| (92.19) | Brendan Dolan | 2 – 0 | Alan Ljubić | (85.36) |
| (86.97) | Zong Xiao Chen | 0 – 2 | Bernie Smith | (87.47) |
| (87.21) | Kenny Neyens | 1 – 2 | Jamie Lewis | (93.17) |
| (86.65) | Seigo Asada | 2 – 1 | Gordon Mathers | (82.65) |
| (81.74) | Kai Fan Leung | 0 – 2 | Paul Lim | (86.25) |
| (83.96) | Willard Bruguier | 1 – 2 | Cody Harris | (84.30) |
| (76.70) | Aleksandr Oreshkin | 0 – 2 | Kevin Münch | (84.66) |

### Laatste 64

| Eerste ronde (best of 5 sets) 14 t/m 21 december | Eerste ronde (best of 5 sets) 14 t/m 21 december | Eerste ronde (best of 5 sets) 14 t/m 21 december | Tweede ronde (best of 7 sets) 22, 23 & 27 december | Tweede ronde (best of 7 sets) 22, 23 & 27 december | Tweede ronde (best of 7 sets) 22, 23 & 27 december | Derde ronde (best of 7 sets) 27 en 28 december | Derde ronde (best of 7 sets) 27 en 28 december | Derde ronde (best of 7 sets) 27 en 28 december | Kwartfinales (best of 9 sets) 29 december | Kwartfinales (best of 9 sets) 29 december | Kwartfinales (best of 9 sets) 29 december | Halve finales (best of 11 sets) 30 december | Halve finales (best of 11 sets) 30 december | Halve finales (best of 11 sets) 30 december | Finale (best of 13 sets) 1 januari 2018 | Finale (best of 13 sets) 1 januari 2018 | Finale (best of 13 sets) 1 januari 2018 |
| 1 | Michael van Gerwen (106.17) | 3 |
| | Christian Kist (100.23) | 1 |
| | Christian Kist (100.23) | 1 | 1 | Michael van Gerwen (108.65) | 4 |
| | | | 32 | James Wilson (96.02) | 0 |
| 32 | James Wilson (97.94) | 3 | 32 | James Wilson (96.02) | 0 |
| | Krzysztof Ratajski (92.59) | 1 | | | |
| | Krzysztof Ratajski (92.59) | 1 | | | | 1 | Michael van Gerwen (100.06) | 4 |
| | | | | | | 16 | Gerwyn Price (97.06) | 2 |
| 16 | Gerwyn Price (101.55) | 3 | | | | 16 | Gerwyn Price (97.06) | 2 |
| | Ted Evetts (85.60) | 0 | | | | | | |
| | Ted Evetts (85.60) | 0 | 16 | Gerwyn Price (96.93) | 4 | | | |
| | | | 17 | Ian White (93.62) | 1 | | | |
| 17 | Ian White (96.89) | 3 | 17 | Ian White (93.62) | 1 | | | |
| | Cody Harris (85.47) | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Cody Harris (85.47) | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | Michael van Gerwen (102.91) | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld (98.76) | 4 |
| 8 | Dave Chisnall (96.75) | 0 | | | | | | | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld (98.76) | 4 |
| | Vincent van der Voort (98.90) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vincent van der Voort (98.90) | 3 | | Vincent van der Voort (101.17) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | 25 | Steve Beaton (94.26) | 0 | | | | | | |
| 25 | Steve Beaton (93.28) | 3 | 25 | Steve Beaton (94.26) | 0 | | | | | | |
| | William O'Connor (91.27) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | William O'Connor (91.27) | 1 | | | | | Vincent van der Voort (93.09) | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld (101.04) | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Raymond van Barneveld (102.00) | 3 | | | | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld (101.04) | 4 | | | |
| | Richard North (91.98) | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Richard North (91.98) | 0 | 9 | Raymond van Barneveld (102.78) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | 24 | Kyle Anderson (95.95) | 1 | | | | | | |
| 24 | Kyle Anderson (93.08) | 3 | 24 | Kyle Anderson (95.95) | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Peter Jacques (85.79) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter Jacques (85.79) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Michael van Gerwen (102.44) | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (100.97) | 6 |
| 5 | Mensur Suljović (93.03) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (100.97) | 6 |
| | Kevin Painter (88.58) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kevin Painter (88.58) | 0 | 5 | Mensur Suljović (90.66) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 28 | Robert Thornton (93.51) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 28 | Robert Thornton (98.67) | 3 | 28 | Robert Thornton (93.51) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brendan Dolan (94.83) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brendan Dolan (94.83) | 1 | | | | 5 | Mensur Suljović (94.35) | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Dimitri Van den Bergh (96.60) | 4 | | | | | | |
| 12 | Jelle Klaasen (96.73) | 1 | | | | | Dimitri Van den Bergh (96.60) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Jan Dekker (95.74) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jan Dekker (95.74) | 3 | | Jan Dekker (97.27) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Dimitri Van den Bergh (94.91) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Stephen Bunting (98.14) | 1 | | Dimitri Van den Bergh (94.91) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dimitri Van den Bergh (104.17) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dimitri Van den Bergh (104.17) | 3 | | | | | | | | Dimitri Van den Bergh (98.60) | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (97.13) | 5 | | | |
| 4 | Daryl Gurney (100.51) | 3 | | | | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (97.13) | 5 | | | |
| | Ronny Huybrechts (96.74) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ronny Huybrechts (96.74) | 1 | 4 | Daryl Gurney (95.58) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 29 | John Henderson (95.89) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 29 | John Henderson (90.09) | 3 | 29 | John Henderson (95.89) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marko Kantele (87.21) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marko Kantele (87.21) | 0 | | | | 29 | John Henderson (92.81) | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (99.77) | 4 | | | | | | |
| 13 | Michael Smith (92.63) | 3 | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (99.77) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Steve Lennon (94.95) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Lennon (94.95) | 2 | 13 | Michael Smith (103.29) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 20 | Rob Cross (102.65) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Rob Cross (104.12) | 3 | 20 | Rob Cross (102.65) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Seigo Asada (92.91) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | Rob Cross (107.67) | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Phil Taylor (102.26) | 2 |
| 2 | Peter Wright (97.90) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Diogo Portela (91.66) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Diogo Portela (91.66) | 1 | 2 | Peter Wright (103.44) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Jamie Lewis (107.27) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 31 | Jonny Clayton (81.83) | 0 | | Jamie Lewis (107.27) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jamie Lewis (99.02) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jamie Lewis (99.02) | 3 | | | | | Jamie Lewis (96.25) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | James Richardson (89.02) | 1 | | | | | | |
| 15 | Alan Norris (95.41) | 3 | | | | | James Richardson (89.02) | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Kim Viljanen (90.38) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kim Viljanen (90.38) | 0 | 15 | Alan Norris (86.76) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | James Richardson (86.78) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Kim Huybrechts (86.40) | 0 | | James Richardson (86.78) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | James Richardson (96.91) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | James Richardson (96.91) | 3 | | | | | | | | Jamie Lewis (101.26) | 5 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 23 | Darren Webster (91.85) | 0 | | | |
| 7 | Adrian Lewis (94.04) | 1 | | | | | | | 23 | Darren Webster (91.85) | 0 | | | |
| | Kevin Münch (93.48) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kevin Münch (93.48) | 3 | | Kevin Münch (81.94) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Toni Alcinas (91.11) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 26 | Cristo Reyes (85.26) | 1 | | Toni Alcinas (91.11) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Toni Alcinas (85.85) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Toni Alcinas (85.85) | 3 | | | | | Toni Alcinas (88.25) | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 23 | Darren Webster (94.54) | 4 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Simon Whitlock (87.42) | 3 | | | | 23 | Darren Webster (94.54) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Martin Schindler (84.01) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Martin Schindler (84.01) | 1 | 10 | Simon Whitlock (92.16) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 23 | Darren Webster (90.20) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 23 | Darren Webster (90.81) | 3 | 23 | Darren Webster (90.20) | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Devon Petersen (87.16) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Devon Petersen (87.16) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | Jamie Lewis (97.35) | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Phil Taylor (99.87) | 6 |
| 6 | Phil Taylor (96.33) | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Phil Taylor (99.87) | 6 |
| | Chris Dobey (91.72) | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Dobey (91.72) | 1 | 6 | Phil Taylor (99.37) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | 27 | Justin Pipe (90.3) | 0 | | | | | | |
| 27 | Justin Pipe (89.24) | 3 | 27 | Justin Pipe (90.3) | 0 | | | | | | |
| | Bernie Smith (87.11) | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bernie Smith (87.11) | 2 | | | | 6 | Phil Taylor (101.34) | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | | | Keegan Brown (96.56) | 0 | | | |
| 11 | James Wade (93.01) | 2 | | | | | Keegan Brown (96.56) | 0 | | | |
| | Keegan Brown (95.45) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Keegan Brown (95.45) | 3 | | Keegan Brown (87.65) | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | Zoran Lerchbacher (87.10) | 2 | | | | | | |
| 22 | Mervyn King (82.89) | 2 | | Zoran Lerchbacher (87.10) | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Zoran Lerchbacher (92.09) | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Zoran Lerchbacher (92.09) | 3 | | | | | | | 6 | Phil Taylor (102.02) | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Gary Anderson (98.68) | 3 |
| 3 | Gary Anderson (100.93) | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | Gary Anderson (98.68) | 3 |
| | Jeff Smith (78.38) | 0 | | | | | | |
| | Jeff Smith (78.38) | 0 | 3 | Gary Anderson (97.46) | 4 | | | |
| | | | | Paul Lim (90.60) | 1 | | | |
| 30 | Mark Webster (91.67) | 2 | | Paul Lim (90.60) | 1 | | | |
| | Paul Lim (95.98) | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Paul Lim (95.98) | 3 | | | | 3 | Gary Anderson (95.26) | 4 |
| | | | | | | | Steve West (92.60) | 2 |
| 14 | Benito van de Pas (90.58) | 1 | | | | | Steve West (92.60) | 2 |
| | Steve West (95.97) | 3 | | | |
| | Steve West (95.97) | 3 | | Steve West (87.92) | 4 |
| | | | | Jermaine Wattimena (87.54) | 1 |
| 19 | Joe Cullen (96.11) | 2 | | Jermaine Wattimena (87.54) | 1 |
| | Jermaine Wattimena (96.83) | 3 |

## Herkomst van de deelnemers

Aan het wereldkampioenschap deden darters van 24 nationaliteiten mee. Zoals gebruikelijk waren de meeste van Engelse afkomst.
| | Totaal | Voorr. | 1e R. | 2e R. | 3e R. | Kwartf. | Halve F. | Finale | Winnaar |
| ENG | 24 | 1 (4,2%) | 23 (95,8%) | 12 (50%) | 6 (25%) | 3 (12,5%) | 2 (8,3%) | 2 (8,3%) | 1 (4,16%) |
| NED | 8 | 0 | 8 (100%) | 5 (62,5%) | 3 (37,5%) | 2 (25%) | 1 (12,5%) | 0 | 0 |
| WAL | 4 | 1 (25%) | 4 (100%) | 2 (50%) | 2 (50%) | 1 (25%) | 1 (25%) | 0 | 0 |
| SCO | 4 | 0 | 4 (100%) | 4 (100%) | 2 (50%) | 1 (25%) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BEL | 4 | 1 (25%) | 3 (75%) | 1 (25%) | 1 (25%) | 1 (25%) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ESP | 2 | 0 | 2 (100%) | 1 (50%) | 1 (50%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AUT | 2 | 0 | 2 (100%) | 2 (100%) | 1 (50%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AUS | 3 | 1 (33,3%) | 2 (66,6%) | 2 (66,6%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SGP | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GER | 2 | 1 (50%) | 2 (100%) | 1 (50%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NIR | 2 | 1 (50%) | 2 (100%) | 1 (50%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FIN | 2 | 0 | 2 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IRL | 2 | 0 | 2 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NZL | 2 | 2 (100%) | 2 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BRA | 1 | 0 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CAN | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JPN | 1 | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POL | 1 | 0 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RSA | 1 | 0 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CHN | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CRO | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HKG | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RUS | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totaal | 72 | 16 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 |

## Wetenswaardigheden

* Diogo Portela is de allereerste Braziliaan die deelneemt aan een wereldkampioenschap darts.
* Phil Taylor nam voor de 29ste opeenvolgende keer deel aan een wereldkampioenschap (zowel BDO als PDC). Dit is een record. Hij is ook de enige speler die is aangetreden in iedere editie van het PDC wereldkampioenschap darts.
* Jamie Lewis was de eerste qualifier die de halve finale haalde.
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