By Ryan Segal
The World Championship – The pinnacle of our great sport, where the world’s elite gather to battle it out for the Sid Waddell trophy in the majestic walls of the Alexandra Palace.
We are proud to have 14 members of Team Unicorn flying the flag this festive season, and going in chronological order of their opening games, here’s what you need to know about each of them going into the worlds:
The first member of Team Unicorn to take to the stage this fair December is Ian White.
Diamond has been a mainstay of the PDC for nigh on a decade and a half. Since missing out on the 2011 iteration of the tournament by £100, Diamond has been an Ally Pally ever-present, bar 2023.
His best run came back in 2014, when he was a losing Quarter-Finalist.
In 2025, he’s had a solid year, qualifying for the Palace via the Pro Tour Order of Merit. His best on the floor this year was a run to the final at PC9 – a key reason why a 14th appearance at the Worlds was never in doubt.
He plays in the first afternoon session of the entire tournament, facing Mervyn King in the second match of Friday – getting underway at approximately 13:30 GMT.
Taking to the stage that very same day, in the evening, is Ross Smith.
Smudger is one of the biggest hitters on the circuit, with 180’s coming as naturally to him as breathing. This will be his ninth appearance at the Palace, being an ever-present since 2019, having made his debut half a decade prior.
He’s yet to make it past the third round – a record he’ll be itching to change this year.
He qualifies for the event through the main OoM, as he continues his quest to smash into the world’s top 10, currently sitting in 12th. The highlight of his year was undoubtedly *that* run at PC16, when he smashed home 2 x 9 darters, won 24 straight legs, and then proceeded to say that “He didn’t feel he’d played that well.”
That’s the level of absurd quality we’re talking here, folks.
He faces Andreas Harrysson in Friday’s evening session opener, at approximately 19:00 GMT.
That’s it for Friday – but move into the following afternoon, and two members of Team Unicorn are set to go head to head.
Gary Anderson and Adam Hunt will lock horns in the first of two all Team Unicorn affairs in the opening round at Ally Pally.
The Flying Scotsman has needs no introduction – but he gets one anyways. A two time back to back champion at the Palace in 2015 and 2016, and an ever present since his debut in 2010, Gary is, simply, a legend.
The Hunter, meanwhile, is making his fourth appearance in darts’ most iconic venue. He made his debut in 2019, before making back to back appearances in 2021 and 2022.
Gary heads to Ally Pally via his Main OoM ranking, sitting 14th after a strong year that saw him retain his European Darts Grand Prix title, and adding another Players Championship into his cabinet.
Adam managed to emerge as one the sharpest shooters from the last chance saloon, booking his trip to Alexandra Palace at the TCH Qualifier in Leicester.
They play in Saturday’s final afternoon game, at approximately 15:30 GMT.
And, for the second day in a row, we double up our fun with one of our tungsten titams in the evening session too.
And that man is super – Super Ted to be precise, as Ted Evetts takes to the stage.
This year marks a fifth appearance at the Alexandra Palace for Ted, and a first for four years – he made a hat trick of consecutive appearances after his debut in 2018, before appearing in 2022 – his last to date.
He makes his return courtesy of the Challenge Tour, in which he finished 3rd on the OoM. He won Event 9 of the year, with other notable moments including a run to the L16 of a Pro Tour, and a nine darter at Challenge Tour 22.
He faces off against Luke Humphries in match three of the evening session, commencing at approximately 21:00 GMT.
Onto Sunday – and we’ve one member of Team Unicorn in action.
That man has, in more ways than one, the coolest nickname in darts – As Darren Beveridge prepares for his Alexandra Palace debut.
As mentioned, Ice Cold is the first player named on this list taking to darts’ most iconic stage for the first time (with more to come), earning his spot via the Pro Tour OoM. He recorded his best run at a Players Championship event in 2025, reaching a Quarter-Final, also landing his first victory on the European Tour.
He also made a maiden appearance at the Players Championship Finals, losing his opener despite a classy 99 average.
He plays in game two of the evening session, taking on Dimitri Van den Bergh at approximately 20:00 GMT.
Now, onto Monday – and the appearance of THREE members of Team Unicorn in just two matches.
Firstly, it’s the second of the two all Team Unicorn ties – and it’s England v Scotland again, as Cameron Menzies faces Charlie Manby.
This year marks a fourth appearance at the Palace for Cammy – having been a constant presence since his first appearance in the 2023 Worlds.
Champagne is another one our debutants, making a first Alexandra Palace appearance at the age of 20.
Cammy secured his fourth appearance in North London with another year of consistent quality, winning a second Pro Tour title, and reaching a second major Quarter-Final at the Grand Prix.
At Ally Pally, he’s never made it past the second round – but in the new format, he’ll be hoping to have shaken that record come Christmas.
Charlie, meanwhile, made waves both in and out of the PDC. A weekly and series winner at the Modus Super Series, he won his first Development Tour in 2025 – and put up a record breaking average of 130 in a DT event.
That was the method he made it through by – qualifying as one of the highest ranked Development Tour players not qualified via the Pro Tour.
Their game is the second of Monday’s afternoon session, commencing at approximately 13:30 GMT.
Straight after that, the iconic Unicorn logo will be shown proud again, as Mensur Suljovic takes to the stage.
This will be The Gentle’s 17th appearance at Alexandra Palace, having missed just two installments since his debut in 2008 (those being 2013 and 2024).
Mensur is another one of our team that qualified through the Pro Tour OoM – with his most productive runs coming in reaching the L16 on both the European Tour and Players Championship circuits.
He faces David Cameron at approximately 14:30, rounding off Team Unicorn’s involvement in Monday’s action.
No members of Team Unicorn play on Tuesday – but we’re back in action on Wednesday.
There’s only an evening session on Wednesday – and it plays host to James Wade.
Since making his World Championship debut in 2005, The Machine hasn’t missed a beat – playing in all 21 iterations of the event, with this being number 22.
He qualifies through the Main OoM, having spent 2025 showing his unprecedented consistency and quality. He reached both the UK Open and World Matchplay Finals, and remains the effervescent threat he’s been for two decades.
He opens his campaign against Ryusei Azemoto in game three of the evening, at approximately 21:00 GMT.
On the Thursday, we have THREE members of Team Unicorn all playing in back to back matches in the afternoon – starting with Callan Rydz.
This year marks The Riot’s seventh appearance on the fabled stage, having been ever present since his debut in 2020. He equalled his best run in the tournament last year, reaching the Quarter-Final.
He reached Ally Pally via the Pro Tour OoM, as he sits just outside of the cut off point on the main OoM. His best run at a Players Championship in 2025 was to the L4.
He kicks off against Patrik Kovacs at approximately 12:30 GMT.
Our next man in action is another debutant – and an awesome talent from across the world.
Motomu Sakai comes to London flying the flag for Unicorn Japan, having earnt his spot via the Asian Tour Order of Merit. His most notable achievement of the season was doing a Mongolian double, winning back to back titles in Ulaanbaatar.
He follows Callan at approximately 13:30 GMT, and he faces Thibault Tricole.
And the last of that Triple Header (and penultimate member of Team Unicorn in R1) is Owen Bates.
It’s a second appearance at the Worlds for Owen, having made his debut last year, losing out in a tight first round fixture.
He reached this point via the Pro Tour OoM, reaching a number of L16s at Players Championships. He had the fall back (were it needed) of qualifying via the Development Tour, having picked up a couple of titles thus year.
He faces Ryan Joyce at 14:30 GMT.
Onto the Friday, and last, but by no means least, is Matt Dennant.
The final member of Team Unicorn to enter the fray, and the final debutant flying the flag.
The Scholar has earnt a chance to shine courtesy of the Pro Tour OoM – a couple of runs to the Quarter-Finals at Players Championship events, and wins on the European Tour were his season highlights.
He faces Kevin Doets, and that one is set to begin at around 12:30 GMT.
So, that’s that – The next week or so jam packed full of warriors from Team Unicorn.
Whatever happens, we are proud of every single one of them for reaching this point.
Every dart will be live on Sky Sports for UK viewers, and on PDC Partners for viewers around the world.
Good luck, Team!