"Ice-Man in the Final" - 5 Bold predictions for the 2026 PDC World Darts Championships - 180UK.com
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“Ice-Man in the Final” – 5 Bold predictions for the 2026 PDC World Darts Championships

2 December 2025
Tom Sansom

By Dylan MacIsaac

Beau Greaves will beat Daryl Gurney

This headline was going to be ‘Beau Greaves makes it past the first round’, but that would feel disrespectful to label as a ‘bold’ prediction. The #1 ranked player on the PDC Women’s series has won 86 matches in a row and won 13 consecutive titles in that competition, and even posted a 105 average to beat reigning World Champion Luke Littler last month in the World Youth Championship.

It’s safe to say that ‘Beau ‘n’ Arrow’ has firmly established herself as one of the biggest talents in the sport. After this week’s draw, she learned her fate of facing two-time major winner Daryl Gurney, whose pedigree unsurprisingly sees him favored by the bookies.  The casual fan may not be familiar with Greaves’ game yet, but she has the potential here for her ‘Littler moment’ and showing the world what a lot of the darting world knows she is capable of.

Michael Van Gerwen will make a deep run

Any other year this would fall under the certainty column rather than the prediction one. Let us not forget that the ‘Green Machine’ forged his way all the way to the final of this event just a year ago. Despite this, something intangible has been missing from his game the last few years, but this year has been the worst yet.

A barrage of personal issues away from the oche has undoubtedly played its part in a year that has yielded a mere two wins and saw him miss the Player’s Championship Finals for the first time in his long career. Van Gerwen has taken the criticism and rumors on the chin and vowed to commit all of his focus to this year’s World Championships to honor his team, his sponsors and the fans. Mighty Mike’s new role as an underdog could provide the spark he has been looking for to restore his dominance, and a favorable first round tie against Mitsohiko Tatsunami could kickstart a campaign for the ages.

Gerwyn Price will reach the final

It will be five years since the Welshman became the first from his country to claim the Sid Waddell trophy, and I back him to have a good go at repeating the feat this time around. Price has had multiple spells since the victory where he has looked untouchable on a level equal to or even superior to 2021, and a run of three televised semi-finals in a row could be a sign of things heating up for the Iceman.

His 11-8 loss to Luke Littler in Minehead last week means that were he to make the quarter-finals he will potentially face the prospect of the World number one in his way, but if Gezzy can time his burst of form right he has proven he is capable of beating anyone.

One of the Lukes will have an early exit

Darius Labanauskas and Ted Evetts stand in the way of Littler and Humphries respectively in their first clashes. Winnable? Of course, but far from easy. To say that one of the two best players in the world will fall at the first hurdle would be outlandish, but these players are all here for a reason.

Littler’s potential route could include the likes of Joe Cullen, Damon Heta, Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting all before even reaching the final. Michael Van Gerwen, Danny Noppert, Gian Van Veen and Nathan Aspinall could all face Humphries, and with this many huge names stood in their way all it would take is one tiny slip up. It is also a notoriously difficult title to defend with Gary Anderson being the last to do so all of 10 years ago, so for Littler to repeat last year’s victory would be a historic effort.

We will see at least one first time semi-finalist

The new complexion of the draw this year saw 128 names called compared to the usual 96. This expanded format with 32 more spaces opens up 32 more opportunities for new faces to show the world what they’re about. Two years ago Luke Littler and Scott Williams made their unexpected semi-final debuts, but last year all four semi-finalists had reached the penultimate stage previously.

There are plenty of players who have the potential to go deep in this championship, but my one to watch would be Gian Van Veen. The Dutchman is fresh off the back of defending his World Youth Championship crown with a win over Beau Greaves and claimed his first major title this year with an 11-10 victory over Luke Humphries at the European Championship.

Van Veen has had a year of kicking it with the big boys, and he enters as the 10th seed ahead of huge names such as Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross, proving he truly is one of the top players in the world already.

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