World Darts Federation

Last updated

World Darts Federation
AbbreviationWDF
Formation1974;51 years ago (1974)
Type Darts organisation
Website www.dartswdf.com

The World Darts Federation (WDF) is a sport governing body [1] [2] and (along with the PDC) a tournament organiser for the game of darts. It was formed in 1974 by representatives of the original fourteen founding members. [2] Membership is open to the national organising body for darts in all nations. The WDF encourages the promotion of the sport of darts among and between those bodies, in an effort to gain international recognition for darts as a major sport. The WDF was a full member of Global Association of International Sports Federations, which was the governing body for international sports federations, until dissolution in 2023.

Contents

In 2025, in response to a motion put forth by England and seconded by Scotland and Wales, the WDF voted to implement an immediate ban on transgender women from competing as women. [3]

Main Events

The WDF stages a world championship (called the WDF World Cup), as well as continental championships such as the WDF Americas Cup, the WDF Asia-Pacific Cup and the WDF Europe Cup. The country that is first in the overall leader board (overall best result in the two events, singles, pairs, teams) becomes the world champion. Winners of any of the events can also call themselves the official World Champion. Winners of continental championships can call themselves the official champion of their own areas.

After the collapse of the British Darts Organisation in September 2020, the WDF announced plans to launch the WDF World Championship and WDF World Masters. [4] Both competitions took place for the first time in 2022, starting with the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship in April. [5]

WDF World Darts Championship since 2022.

Members

76 national full members plus 3 interim nembers (Mauritania, Yemen, Papua New Guinea) : [6]

The WDF Rankings, as defined by the World Darts Federation, are the "objective merit-based method used for determining qualification for entry and seeding in all of its tournaments for both male and female singles, pairs and team". The rankings tables are "rolling tables", and points from an event are counted until that event occurs the following year. If a particular event does not occur in the following year, points are deleted after a calendar year. [7]

Para Darts

World ParaDarts is also an associate member of the WDF.

Tournament levels and points allocation

A player's WDF Ranking is based on the points they have accrued from their best 10 performances over the previous 12 month rolling period. [8] The eligible tournaments include a selection of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze level tournaments with decreasing points at each level.

Since the formation of the WDF rankings in 1974 the method used to calculate a player's ranking points has changed several times. Notes: The WDF international tournaments have six categories for both men and women (singles, pairs and teams)

Current points distribution

Points are currently awarded as follows: [9]

Tournament categoryWFSFQFR16R32R64
WDF Platinum tournaments 27016710364392613
WDF Gold tournaments 180111684326179
WDF Silver tournaments 90563421139
WDF Bronze tournaments 452817116

Current WDF World Rankings

The rankings are based on a cumulative points system similar to ATP rankings in tennis they are done on a rolling one year basis. When a tournament is played, the previous year's results are removed from the rankings. This list is used to determine seeds for some of the WDF Opens. The World Darts Federation also have a ranking system designed to provide a measure of the global activities of darts players in every WDF recognised darts event. It used to be very similar to the BDO system but was revised in January 2007 to include categories by country and by events, and the distribution of ranking points reflect the levels of prize money on offer and the numbers of entries in a tournament. Therefore, the WDF World Rankings give a better reflection on BDO player world ranking. The leading players gain points in different levels of categorised events and prize money and at the end of the season the leading players receive monetary bonus rewards from the WDF. [10]

WDF Men's World Rankings as of 6 July 2025. [11]
RankChangePlayerPoints
1Steady2.svg Flag of the United States.svg   Leonard Gates 630
2Steady2.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Jimmy van Schie 628
3Steady2.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Corné Groeneveld574
4Steady2.svg Flag of England.svg  James Beeton496
5Increase2.svg 1 Flag of the United States.svg  Jason Brandon489
6Increase2.svg 1 Flag of the United States.svg   Alex Spellman 462
7Increase2.svg 1 Flag of Slovenia.svg   Benjamin Pratnemer 442
8Increase2.svg 32 Flag of New Zealand.svg  Jonny Tata403
9Steady2.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg   Peter Machin 400
10Steady2.svg Flag of the United States.svg   David Fatum 399
11Decrease2.svg 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Danny Porter396
12Increase2.svg 2 Flag of Scotland.svg  Andy Davidson387
13Decrease2.svg 2 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Thomas Junghans 376
14Decrease2.svg 2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg   Brian Raman 375
15Decrease2.svg 2 Flag of Scotland.svg  Jim McEwan370
16Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  François Schweyen364
17Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of Scotland.svg   Ryan Hogarth 342
18Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg   Raymond Smith 339
19Increase2.svg 2 Flag of Sweden.svg   Dennis Nilsson 332
20Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of England.svg  Cliff Prior326
21Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of England.svg  Reece Colley322
22Steady2.svg Flag of England.svg   Carl Wilkinson 309
23Steady2.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Karl Schaefer299
24Steady2.svg Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Xanti van den Bergh280
25Steady2.svg Flag of Ireland.svg   Shane McGuirk 279
26Increase2.svg 2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Jeffrey Sparidaans 270
27Increase2.svg 16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg   Jeff Smith 270
28Increase2.svg 1 Flag of Germany.svg  Liam Maendl-Lawrance270
29Increase2.svg 1 Flag of Hong Kong.svg   Kai Fan Leung 266
30Decrease2.svg 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg   Ben Robb 265
31Steady2.svg Flag of Sweden.svg   Johan Engstrom 264
32Steady2.svg Flag of England.svg  Martyn Turner262
WDF Women's World Rankings as of 9 July 2025. [12]
RankChangePlayerPoints
1Steady2.svg Flag of England.svg   Beau Greaves 1183
2Steady2.svg Flag of England.svg   Deta Hedman 958
3Steady2.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg   Rhian O'Sullivan 926
4Steady2.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Lerena Rietbergen885
5Steady2.svg Flag of Scotland.svg   Lorraine Hyde 869
6Steady2.svg Flag of New Zealand.svg  Nicole Regnaud728
7Steady2.svg Flag of the United States.svg  Tracy Feiertag687
8Steady2.svg Flag of Scotland.svg  Sophie McKinlay677
9Steady2.svg Flag of Germany.svg   Irina Armstrong 591
10Steady2.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Joanne Hadley557
11Steady2.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jitka Císařová555
12Increase2.svg 5 Flag of Finland.svg  Kirsi Viinikainen545
13Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Aletta Wajer543
14Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Aileen de Graaf 538
15Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of the United States.svg  Paula Murphy522
16Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of New Zealand.svg  Desi Mercer484
17Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Anca Zijlstra 468
18Steady2.svg Flag of England.svg  Paige Pauling458
19Steady2.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Priscilla Steenbergen 425
20Increase2.svg 7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Maria Carli414
21Increase2.svg 1 Flag of Sweden.svg  Maud Jansson410
22Decrease2.svg 2 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Eve Watson410
23Decrease2.svg 2 Flag of Hungary.svg  Gréta Tekauer407
24Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of England.svg   Kirsty Hutchinson 360
25Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of the United States.svg  Aaja Jalbert350
26Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of England.svg   Paula Jacklin 339
27Increase2.svg 1 Flag of Hungary.svg   Veronika Ihász 311
28Increase2.svg 18 Flag of Japan.svg   Mayumi Ouchi 297
29Steady2.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Adriana van Wijgerden-Vermaat282
30Steady2.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Janine Cassar278
31Decrease2.svg 5 Flag of New Zealand.svg  Wendy Harper264
32Decrease2.svg 1 Flag of New Zealand.svg  Taylor-Marsh Kahaki262

WDF World No1 men's and women's players (1976–current)

[13]

YearMenWomen
1976 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Alan Evans No rankings
1977 Flag of England.svg John Lowe No rankings
1978 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Leighton Rees No rankings
1979 Flag of England.svg John Lowe (2)No rankings
1980 Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow No rankings
1981 Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow (2)No rankings
1982 Flag of Scotland.svg Jocky Wilson No rankings
1983 Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow (3)No rankings
1984 Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow (4) Flag of England.svg Sandy Reitan
1985 Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow (5) Flag of New Zealand.svg Lilian Barnett
1986 Flag of England.svg John Lowe (3) Flag of England.svg Linda Batten
1987 Flag of England.svg Bob Anderson Flag of Sweden.svg Maarit Fagerholm
1988 Flag of England.svg John Lowe (4) Flag of England.svg Jayne Kempster
1989 Flag of England.svg Bob Anderson (2) Flag of England.svg Sharon Colclough
1990 Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow (6) Flag of England.svg Sharon Colclough (2)
1991 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor Flag of England.svg Sharon Colclough (3)
1992 Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington Flag of England.svg Mandy Solomons
1993 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Leo Laurens Flag of England.svg Mandy Solomons (2)
1994 Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman
1995 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Richie Burnett Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (2)
1996 Flag of England.svg Martin Adams Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (3)
1997 Flag of England.svg Martin Adams (2) Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (4)
1998 Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter Flag of the Netherlands.svg Francis Hoenselaar
1999 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver
2000 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld (2) Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (2)
2001 Flag of England.svg Mervyn King Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (3)
2002 Flag of England.svg John Walton Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (4)
2003 Flag of England.svg Martin Adams (3) Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (5)
2004 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld (3) Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (6)
2005 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld (4) Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (7)
2006 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (8)
2007 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (9)
2008 Flag of England.svg Scott Waites Flag of the Netherlands.svg Francis Hoenselaar (2)
2009 Flag of England.svg Tony O'Shea Flag of England.svg Trina Gulliver (10)
2010 Flag of England.svg Martin Adams (4) Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (5)
2011 Flag of England.svg Scott Waites (2) Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (6)
2012 Flag of England.svg Stephen Bunting Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (7)
2013 Flag of England.svg James Wilson Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (8)
2014 Flag of England.svg Alan Norris Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (9)
2015 Flag of Lithuania.svg Darius Labanauskas Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (10)
2016 Flag of Lithuania.svg Darius Labanauskas (2) Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (11)
2017 Flag of England.svg   Scott Mitchell Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Aileen de Graaf
2018 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg   Jim Williams Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (12)
2019 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg   Nick Kenny Flag of the Netherlands.svg Aileen de Graaf (2)
2020 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg   Wayne Warren Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (13)
2021 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg   Brian Raman Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman (14)
2022 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen (2) Flag of England.svg   Beau Greaves
2023 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg   Andy Baetens Flag of England.svg Beau Greaves (2)
2024 Flag of the Netherlands.svg   Jimmy van Schie Flag of England.svg Beau Greaves (3)

The rankings show Deta Hedman and Trina Gulliver as consistently being the leading women's player's, having been number one on a record ten or more occasions each. No male player has held the number one position as many years Gulliver and Hedman, although Eric Bristow has held the top position for a record six times. The rankings for the men has become even more complex since the inception of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) formerly the World Darts Council (WDC). The leading ranked players in 1993/94 split from the BDO and they have their own world ranking system known as the Order of Merit. The players from the PDC are not included in the rankings because the BDO, which is the British governing body of amateur darts, is the one that is recognised by the WDF.

WDF tournaments

See also

References

  1. McNeely, Scott (10 October 2012). Ultimate Book of Sports: The Essential Collection of Rules, Stats, and Trivia for Over 250 Sports . Chronicle Books, September 14, 2012. p.  343. ISBN   9781452110592 . Retrieved 4 January 2016 via Internet Archive.
  2. 1 2 Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. ABC-CLIO. p. 70. ISBN   9781598843002 . Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. Russell, John. "Trans darts player vows not to let new anti-trans ban ruin her love of the sport". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  4. "Development of World Rankings Criteria For 2021 – WDF". World Darts Federation. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. "Lakeside WDF World Championships 2022 - Rescheduled".
  6. "Member Countries". World Darts Federation.
  7. "World Ranking Systems Criteria Seniors 38th ed" (PDF). World Darts Federation. 7.01 Points Allocation Table. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  8. "WDF Rules". WDF. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  9. "WDF Rules". WDF. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  10. "WDF Ranking Systems: 2015 Monetary Awards". WDF. 13 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  11. "WDF Men's Rankings Table". WDF. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  12. "WDF Women's Rankings Table". WDF. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  13. WDF Roll of Honour (previous world number ones)

Sources