WDF World Championship 2022 postponed until April

The 2022 WDF World Championship has been postponed until April due to Covid concerns.

The inaugural WDF World Championship had been due to take place from January 1-9 at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green but has now been rescheduled for April 2-10.

The WDF has cited growing concerns over potential government restrictions relating to Covid-19 as the reason for the postponement.

Live Darts understands less than 15 per cent of tickets had been sold for the entire tournament to date.

WDF Secretary General Nick Rolls said: “Clearly this is a disappointing decision to have to make, especially as momentum and excitement was building around the return to Lakeside,”

“But the health and safety of our players and supporters must be our first priority.”

“Travel is also becoming increasingly restrictive, and with so many players to consider coming from overseas, it is essential to the WDF and their member nations that they are still able to compete in what is truly a global championship.

“We hope that having now rescheduled, it keeps those players dreams alive from all over the world.”

WDF Chief Development Officer Richard Ashdown added: “The whole initiative behind the WDF World Championships is to provide an end of season finale for the players as reward for their efforts over the season.

“For the players to experience the Lakeside to its full potential, it is important that those competing, as well as the fans who come along to support can do so with as little restriction as possible and in the safest environment that we can provide.

“Our thanks go out to our broadcast partners Eurosport/Discovery+ and our host/sponsors the Lakeside for rearranging their schedules so quickly.”

The tournament marks the sport’s televised return to Lakeside for the first time since 2019 – when the BDO hosted its penultimate World Championship before being liquidated the following year.

The men’s event will incorporate a prize fund of £200,000, with £50,000 on offer to the winner, while the women’s event features a total prize fund of £87,500, with a £25,000 top prize up for grabs.

The top 16 players are seeded through to the Second Round of the men’s draw, while the next highest 16 players from the WDF world rankings join a series of qualifiers in Round One.

The original draw, which was made on December 7, will remain in operation, while the updated schedule of play is to be confirmed in due course.

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