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How does the World Darts Championship draw work?
Who plays whom in round 1? The draw follows fixed rules – here is how seeding, draw pots and the bracket fit together.
1. The top 32 are seeded
The 32 highest-ranked players on the PDC Order of Merit are seeded and have fixed places in the bracket. Number 1 is at the very top, number 2 at the very bottom – so the two favourites cannot meet before the final. The seeds start in round 1 like everybody else.
2. Ranks 33 to 64 avoid the top 32
The next 32 players in the rankings cannot face a seed in round 1. They are drawn into the second match of each block of four – so their potential second-round opponent is a seed.
3. Everybody else is drawn
The remaining 64 players – Pro Tour qualifiers and international qualifiers – are drawn against the seeds and the players ranked 33 to 64. In the live draw, the bracket is filled pairing by pairing from top to bottom.
Positions of the seeds in the bracket
Quarter 1 · Top half 1
- 1
- 32
- 16
- 17
- 8
- 25
- 9
- 24
Quarter 2 · Top half 2
- 4
- 29
- 13
- 20
- 5
- 28
- 12
- 21
Quarter 3 · Bottom half 1
- 2
- 31
- 15
- 18
- 7
- 26
- 10
- 23
Quarter 4 · Bottom half 2
- 3
- 30
- 14
- 19
- 6
- 27
- 11
- 22
Order from top to bottom. Each number stands for a block of four: seed, qualifier, player ranked 33–64, qualifier.
Try it yourself
In the Darts Simulator you can run the draw under exactly these rules – live ball by ball or instantly – and then predict the bracket.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 World Darts Championship draw?
The draw takes place right after the Tour Card Holder Qualifier, once all 128 places are filled.
Can numbers 1 and 2 meet before the final?
No. Number 1 is in the top half, number 2 in the bottom half of the bracket.