Darts fans across the UK are set for a marathon day of tungsten action as the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship reaches the quarter-final stage at London's iconic Alexandra Palace. The New Year's Day schedule promises a long, gruelling, and utterly compelling spectacle for the sport's enthusiasts.
Afternoon Session: Searle, Clayton, Anderson and Hood Kick Off
The action gets underway in the afternoon session, scheduled to start at approximately 12:45pm GMT. The first match on the Ally Pally oche pits the twentieth seed, Ryan Searle, against the fifth seed, Jonny Clayton. This will be followed by a clash between the legendary two-time world champion Gary Anderson, seeded 14th, and the unseeded challenger Justin Hood.
Evening Blockbuster: Littler and Humphries Headline
The evening session, beginning around 7:15pm GMT, features the tournament's top seeds. World number one and defending champion Luke Littler will take on unseeded Polish player Krzysztof Ratajski. The final match of the day sees the world number two, Luke Humphries, face the tenth seed, Dutchman Gian van Veen, in what promises to be a high-quality encounter.
A Gruelling But Rewarding Day for Darts Fans
For followers of the sport, the quarter-final day represents the pinnacle of the World Championship's intensity, with four matches determining who will advance to the semi-finals. The atmosphere inside Alexandra Palace is expected to be electric, continuing the tournament's tradition of passionate crowds and dramatic finishes. With a mix of established legends, reigning champions, and ambitious underdogs, the 2026 quarter-finals are perfectly poised to deliver unforgettable sporting drama on the first day of the new year.
