2021 PDC World Darts Championship

Darts tournamentTemplate:SHORTDESC:Darts tournament
The **2021 William Hill World Darts Championship** was the 28th World Championship organised by the Professional Darts Corporation since it separated from the British Darts Organisation. The collapse of the BDO in September 2020 and subsequent postponement of the World Darts Federation-sanctioned event meant that this edition was the first undisputed World Championship in the sport since John Lowe won the Embassy in 1993. The event took place at the Alexandra Palace in London from 15 December 2020–3 January 2021, and was played behind closed doors, except for the first day of the tournament, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peter Wright was the defending champion, after defeating Michael van Gerwen 7–3 in the 2020 final. However, he was shockingly eliminated by Gabriel Clemens in the third round.

Gerwyn Price won the World Championship for the first time in his career, beating Gary Anderson 7–3 in the final. As a result of winning the title, Gerwyn took over from Michael van Gerwen as world number 1.

Steve Beaton played in a record 30th consecutive World Championship (including the BDO version), breaking the record he jointly held with Phil Taylor, but he lost in the first round to Diogo Portela.

James Wade hit his first World Championship nine-dart finish and the first PDC World Championship nine-darter since 2016 in his third round defeat to Stephen Bunting.

## Format

All matches were played as single in, double out; requiring the players to score 501 points to win a leg, finishing on either a double or the bullseye. Matches were played to set format, with each set being the best of five legs (first to three). A rule which has been in place for previous tournaments, where the final set had to be won by two clear legs, was removed in order to prevent sessions overrunning.

The matches got longer as the tournament progresses:

* First round: Best of five sets
* Second round: Best of five sets
* Third round: Best of seven sets
* Fourth round: Best of seven sets
* Quarter-finals: Best of nine sets
* Semi-finals: Best of eleven sets
* Final: Best of thirteen sets

## Prize money

The prize money for the tournament was £2,500,000 in total – the same as in the previous year. The winner's share was £500,000.

## Qualification

### Qualifiers

The top 32 from the PDC Order of Merit began the competition in the second round. The 32 highest ranked players on the PDC Pro Tour Order of Merit (not already qualified) and 32 qualifiers from around the world began in the first round.

01.    Michael van Gerwen  *(Quarter-finals)*
02.    Peter Wright  *(Third round)*
03.   **Gerwyn Price**  **(Champion)**
04.    Michael Smith  *(Second round)*
05.    Rob Cross  *(Second round)*
06.    Nathan Aspinall  *(Third round)*
07.    James Wade  *(Third round)*
08.    Dave Chisnall  *(Semi-finals)*
09.    Dimitri Van den Bergh  *(Fourth round)*
10.    Ian White  *(Second round)*
11.    Daryl Gurney  *(Quarter-finals)*
12.    Glen Durrant  *(Fourth round)*
13.    Gary Anderson  *(Runner-up)*
14.    José de Sousa  *(Third round)*
15.    Krzysztof Ratajski  *(Quarter-finals)*
16.    Joe Cullen  *(Fourth round)*
17.    Jonny Clayton  *(Third round)*
18.    Simon Whitlock  *(Third round)*
19.    Mervyn King  *(Fourth round)*
20.    Mensur Suljović  *(Third round)*
21.    Adrian Lewis  *(Second round)*
22.    Chris Dobey  *(Third round)*
23.    Jeffrey de Zwaan  *(Second round)*
24.    Jermaine Wattimena  *(Third round)*
25.    Danny Noppert  *(Third round)*
26.    Stephen Bunting  *(Semi-finals)*
27.    Vincent van der Voort  *(Fourth round)*
28.    Jamie Hughes  *(Second round)*
29.    Devon Petersen  *(Fourth round)*
30.    Brendan Dolan  *(Third round)*
31.    Gabriel Clemens  *(Fourth round)*
32.    Ricky Evans  *(Third round)*

1. Damon Heta  *(First round)*
2. Ryan Searle  *(Fourth round)*
3. Dirk van Duijvenbode  *(Quarter-finals)*
4. Ross Smith  *(Second round)*
5. Madars Razma  *(Second round)*
6. Ryan Joyce  *(Second round)*
7. Martijn Kleermaker  *(First round – withdrew)*
8. Kim Huybrechts  *(Third round)*
9. Jeff Smith  *(Second round)*
10. William O'Connor  *(Second round)*
11. Steve Lennon  *(Second round)*
12. Jason Lowe  *(Third round)*
13. Maik Kuivenhoven  *(First round)*
14. Derk Telnekes  *(First round)*
15. Darius Labanauskas  *(Second round)*
16. Mickey Mansell  *(Second round)*
17. Adam Hunt  *(Third round)*
18. Max Hopp  *(Second round)*
19. Scott Waites  *(Second round)*
20. Andy Boulton  *(Second round)*
21. Ryan Murray  *(Second round)*
22. Keegan Brown  *(Second round)*
23. Steve Beaton  *(First round)*
24. Luke Woodhouse  *(First round)*
25. Luke Humphries  *(First round)*
26. Callan Rydz  *(Second round)*
27. Mike De Decker  *(First round)*
28. Ron Meulenkamp  *(Second round)*
29. Steve West  *(Second round)*
30. Wayne Jones *(Second round)*
31. Andy Hamilton  *(First round)*
32. John Henderson  *(Second round)*
* Lisa Ashton  – *PDC Women's Series* *(First round)*
* Danny Baggish  – *CDC USA Series* *(Third round)*
* James Bailey  – *DPA Pro Tour* *(First round)*
* Keane Barry  – *PDC Development Tour* *(First round)*
* Bradley Brooks  – *World Youth Champion* *(First round)*
* Matt Campbell  – *CDC Canadian Series* *(First round)*
* Cameron Carolissen  – *African Qualifier* *(Second round)*
* Matthew Edgar  – *UK Tour Card Holders' Qualifier* *(Second round)*
* David Evans  – *PDC Challenge Tour* *(First round)*
* Edward Foulkes  – *PDJ Japanese Championship* *(Second round)*
* Amit Gilitwala  – *Indian Darts Federation* *(First round)*
* Dmitriy Gorbunov  - *EADC Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Deta Hedman  – *PDC Women's Series* *(First round)*
* Lourence Ilagan  – *PDC Asia Philippines Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Marko Kantele  – *PDC Nordic & Baltic* *(First round)*
* Nick Kenny  – *UK Tour Card Holders' Qualifier* *(Second round)*
* Boris Krčmar  – *Eastern European Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Nico Kurz  – *Superleague Germany* *(Second round)*
* Daniel Larsson  – *PDC Nordic & Baltic* *(First round)*
* Danny Lauby  – *CDC Continental Cup* *(First round)*
* Jamie Lewis  – *UK Tour Card Holders' Qualifier* *(Second round)*
* Paul Lim  – *PDC Asia Hong Kong Qualifier* *(Second round)*
* Chengan Liu  – *PDC China Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Gordon Mathers  – *DPA Pro Tour* *(First round)*
* Ryan Meikle  – *PDC Development Tour* *(First round)*
* Diogo Portela  – *South American Representative* *(Second round)*
* Haupai Puha  – *DPNZ Order of Merit* *(First round)*
* Karel Sedláček  – *Rest of World Tour Card Holder's Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Toru Suzuki  – *PDC Asia Japan Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Ciarán Teehan  – *UK Tour Card Holders' Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Di Zhuang  – *PDC Asia China Qualifier* *(First round)*
* Niels Zonneveld  – *Rest of World Tour Card Holder's Qualifier* *(First round)*

Notes

1. ↑ Kim Viljanen, who had qualified as PDC Nordic and Baltic #1, withdrew from the field for health reasons. Marko Kantele, the next highest ranked on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Order of Merit after Darius Labanauskas (already qualified), replaced him in the field.

## Summary

UK government regulations following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom allowed Tier 2 areas, including London, to hold sporting events with up to 1,000 spectators indoors. The Professional Darts Corporation announced that the World Championship would be the first PDC event in the United Kingdom to allow fans, since the UK Open in March 2020. Fans attending the event were not allowed to wear fancy dress and 'football style' chanting was prohibited. With London subsequently moving to Tier 3 on 16 December, it meant that the tournament was held behind closed doors for all sessions barring the opening night.

The top quarter of the draw saw number one seed Michael van Gerwen defeat Ryan Murray in the second round, before a 4–0 win over Ricky Evans qualified him for the fourth round. In that round, Van Gerwen came from 3–1 down and survived two darts at the bullseye from Joe Cullen to win in a sudden death last leg and reach the quarter-final for the fifth consecutive year and the eighth time overall. Number eight seed Dave Chisnall reached his third PDC World Championship quarter-final after wins over Keegan Brown, Danny Noppert and Dimitri Van den Bergh. In the quarter-final, Chisnall stunned Michael van Gerwen with a 5–0 whitewash win over the world number one to reach the first PDC World Championship semi-final of his career. This defeat was van Gerwen's first whitewash loss (without winning a set) since 2009, when he lost to Phil Taylor.

The two highest seeds in the second quarter were both eliminated early, with fourth seed Michael Smith losing 3–1 to debutant Jason Lowe and fifth seed Rob Cross losing in a sudden death last leg to Dirk van Duijvenbode. Former world champion Adrian Lewis also exited in the second round, losing to American Danny Baggish 3–1. Two-time champion Gary Anderson beat Madars Razma in the second round before beating Mensur Suljović 4–3 in a controversial game, with Anderson accusing his opponent of gamesmanship. Anderson then whitewashed Lowe's conqueror Devon Petersen to reach the eighth PDC World Championship quarterfinal of his career. Van Duijvenbode followed up his win over Cross with a 4–0 win over Adam Hunt and a second last-leg victory, this time over Glen Durrant, to reach his first PDC World Championship quarter-final. Van Duijvenbode won the first set against Anderson in the quarter-final, but Anderson turned the game around including a run of ten legs in a row to win the match 5–1.

Peter Wright opened his title defence with a 3–1 win over Steve West, appearing on stage dressed as The Grinch. Wright's reign was ended in the next round, after Gabriel Clemens won a last leg decider over him. Krzysztof Ratajski made it past Ryan Joyce and Simon Whitlock without dropping a set, before knocking out Clemens with a last leg victory of his own, with both players missing multiple darts to win before Ratajski finally hit double one to take the win and become the first Polish player to make a PDC World Championship quarter-final. Seventh seed James Wade was eliminated in the third round by Stephen Bunting, despite hitting the first perfect Nine-dart finish at the World Championship since Gary Anderson at the 2016 PDC World Darts Championship. Bunting overcame Ryan Searle in the fourth round to qualify for the quarter-finals for the second time. In the quarter-final; Bunting took the first three sets and led 4–1 after the fifth. Ratajski closed the gap to 4–3 over the next two sets but Bunting broke throw in the eighth set to complete the win and qualify for his first PDC World Championship semi-final.

In the fourth quarter, third seed Gerwyn Price came thorough a last set decider against fellow Welshman Jamie Lewis and a sudden death last leg decider against 30th seed Brendan Dolan to reach the fourth round, where he took a 4–1 win over Mervyn King to reach the quarter-final for the second consecutive year. He was joined in the quarter-final by Daryl Gurney, who reached that stage for the second time after wins over William O'Connor, Chris Dobey, and Vincent van der Voort. In the quarter-final, Price twice led by two sets at 2–0 & 4–2; and on both occasions Gurney won the next two sets to level. The final set went to a final leg, with Price eventually hitting the double 20 to win and reach a second consecutive semi-final.

The first semi-final played was between Price and Bunting. Price won the first set and took a 2–0 lead in the second before Bunting fought back to take the second set and the next two. Price took the fifth and sixth sets to level before Bunting again fought back from 2–0 down in a set to lead after the seventh set. Price levelled the match by winning the eighth set and won the last two sets by 3–0 and 3–1 to become the first Welsh player to reach a PDC World Championship final. The thirteen 100+ finishes thrown by the two players was a record combined count for a PDC World Championship match.

In the second semi-final, Anderson and Chisnall shared the first two sets, before Anderson claimed the next two to take a 3–1 lead. Chisnall broke Anderson's throw to take the fifth set, but Anderson immediately broke back and won the sixth. Again, Chisnall won the seventh set but Anderson restored the two set advantage with an eighth set victory. Anderson won all three legs in the ninth set to secure a 6–3 win, qualifying the two-time World Champion for his fifth PDC World Championship final.

The final between Anderson and Price was held on 3 January 2021. Anderson threw first in the first set and won the first two legs, but missed four darts for a 3–0 set win, and Price came back to take the set 3–2. Anderson broke back with a 3–1 win in the second set. Price broke again in the third set despite a "big fish" 170 finish from Anderson, and held his throw in the fourth set to take a 3–1 advantage. Price again broke Anderson's throw in the fifth set, and won the sixth 3–0. Price took a two leg lead in the seventh set, but Anderson fought back to take only his second set of the match. Price regained the four-set advantage by winning the eighth set to go one away from winning the title. Price missed nine darts for the championship in the ninth set, which Anderson won. In the tenth set, Price fought back from 2–0 to eventually take the set and the championship, winning the title on double five.

Price's first World Championship additionally saw him take the number one spot on the PDC Order of Merit away from Michael van Gerwen, the Dutchman having held the title for seven years since winning the 2014 PDC World Darts Championship.

## Draw

The draw took place on 3 December 2020, live on Sky Sports News.

### Bottom half

#### Section 3

**The time allocated for running scripts has expired.****The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**

#### Section 4

**The time allocated for running scripts has expired.****The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**

## Top averages

This table shows the highest averages achieved by players throughout the tournament.

## Representation

This table shows the number of players by country in the 2021 PDC World Championship. A total of 29 nationalities were represented, surpassing the record of the 2020 and 2019 editions by one.

## References

1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `dates`
2. ↑ PDC World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright Live.
3. ↑ [After numerous works placement tournaments https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jan/03/gerwyn-price-sweeps-gary-anderson-aside-to-clinch-first-world-title-pdc-world-championships Peter Wright sweeps Gary Anderson aside to clinch first PDC world darts title]. *Guardian* (3 January 2021).
4. ↑ 2020/21 William Hill World Championship schedule of play. Professional Darts Corporation.
5. ↑ William Hill World Championship. Professional Darts Corporation.
6. ↑ 2020/21 William Hill World Darts Championship preview. PDC (14 December 2020).
7. ↑ Order of Merit Rules, 3.1. PDC.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 WC Race Table. PDC.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Oceanic duo secure World Championship spots. Professional Darts Corporation.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `6World`
11. ↑ Viljanen replaced by Kantele for the World Championship (29 November 2020).
12. ↑ Crowds of up to 4,000 and grassroots sport to return after English lockdown.
13. ↑ 2020/21 William Hill World Championship ticket information. Professional Darts Corporation.
14. ↑ William Hill World Darts Championship: Tickets Update. Professional Darts Corporation.
15. ↑ Van Gerwen raises the bar with Murray victory on Day Five. Professional Darts Corporation.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 PDC World Championship: Peter Wright knocked out by Gabriel Clemens.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 PDC World Championship: James Wade hits nine-dart finish in loss to Stephen Bunting.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Van Gerwen & Ratajski win thrillers on Day 12 to reach quarter-finals. Professional Darts Corporation.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 PDC World Championship: Two-time winner Gary Anderson through to third round.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 PDC World Championship: Gary Anderson reaches quarter-finals.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 2020/21 William Hill World Darts Championship quarter-finals. Professional Darts Corporation.
22. ↑ Jason Lowe dumps Michael Smith out of PDC World Championships darts.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 PDC World Championship: Former champions Rob Cross and Adrian Lewis suffer shock second-round defeats.
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 PDC World Championship: Gary Anderson says fans would have been better watching Coronation Street.
25. ↑ PDC World Darts Championship: Peter Wright wins opener in Grinch get-up.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 PDC World Championship: Gerwyn Price beats fellow Welshman Jamie Lewis to reach third round.
27. ↑ PDC World Darts Championship 2021: Daryl Gurney edges William O'Connor 3-2 in second round.
28. ↑ PDC World Darts Championship 2021: Daryl Gurney impresses in 4-1 win over Chris Dobey.
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 2020/21 William Hill World Championship Semi-Finals. Professional Darts Corporation.
30. ↑ 2020/21 William Hill World Championship Final. Professional Darts Corporation.
31. ↑ The race to be world number one: Price poised to reach pinnacle. Professional Darts Corporation.
32. ↑ 2020/2021 William Hill World Championship draw. PDC.
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 **The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
**The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**

**The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
**The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**
**The time allocated for running scripts has expired.**