World Darts Federation

{{Short description|Darts governing body and tournament organiser}} {{Use British English|date=January 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox organization | name = World Darts Federation | former_name = | image = World Darts Federation logo.svg | image_border = | image_size = 150px | image_alt = | caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | abbreviation = WDF | predecessor = | successor = | formation = {{Start date and age|1974}} | extinction = | type = [[Darts]] organisation | status = | purpose = | headquarters = | location = | coordinates = | region_served = | num_members = | language = | general_secretary = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = | affiliations = | budget = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = {{URL|www.dartswdf.com}} | remarks = }}The '''World Darts Federation''' ('''WDF''') is a [[sport governing body]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=McNeely|first1=Scott|title=Ultimate Book of Sports: The Essential Collection of Rules, Stats, and Trivia for Over 250 Sports|url=https://archive.org/details/ultimatebookofsp0000mcne|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/ultimatebookofsp0000mcne/page/343 343]|via=Internet Archive|date=10 October 2012 |publisher=Chronicle Books, September 14, 2012|isbn=9781452110592 |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=nauright>{{cite book|last1=Nauright|first1=John|last2=Parrish|first2=Charles|title=Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice |date=2012 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781598843002 |page=70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IkLYDgTnMxEC&pg=RA1-PA70 |access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref> and (along with the [[Professional Darts Corporation|PDC]]) a tournament organiser for the game of [[darts]]. It was formed in 1974 by representatives of the original fourteen founding members.<ref name=nauright /> 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.

==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 [[World Masters (darts)|WDF World Masters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dartswdf.com/2020/09/15/development-of-world-rankings-criteria-for-2021/|title=Development of World Rankings Criteria For 2021 – WDF|website=World Darts Federation|date=15 September 2020|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Both competitions took place for the first time in 2022, starting with the [[2022 WDF World Darts Championship]] in April.<ref>{{cite web|date=15 December 2021 |url=https://dartswdf.com/news/lakeside-wdf-world-championships-2022-rescheduled |title=Lakeside WDF World Championships 2022 - Rescheduled |website=World Darts Federation}}</ref>

==Members== 80 national full members :<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Countries |url=https://dartswdf.com/members |website=World Darts Federation}}</ref> {{Div col|colwidth=15em}} * {{flag|Australia}} * {{flag|Austria}} * {{flag|Bahamas}} * {{flag|Bahrain}} * {{flag|Belgium}} * {{flag|Brunei}} * {{flag|Bulgaria}} * {{flag|Canada}} * {{flag|Catalonia}} * {{flag|Chinese Taipei}} * {{flag|Croatia}} * {{flag|Cyprus}} * {{flag|Czech Republic}} * {{flag|Denmark}} * {{flag|Egypt}} * {{flag|England}} * {{flag|Estonia}} * {{flag|Ethiopia}} * {{flag|Faroe Islands}} * {{flag|Finland}} * {{flag|France}} * {{flag|Germany}} * {{flag|Gibraltar}} * {{flag|Greece}} * {{flag|Guernsey}} * {{flag|Hong Kong}} * {{flag|Hungary}} * {{flag|Iceland}} * {{flag|India}} * {{flag|Iran}} * {{flag|Isle of Man}} * {{flag|Italy}} * {{flag|Jamaica}} * {{flag|Japan}} * {{flag|Jersey}} * {{flag|Kenya}} * {{flag|Latvia}} * {{flag|Liechtenstein}} * {{flag|Lithuania}} * {{flag|Luxembourg}} * {{flag|Macau}} * {{flag|Malaysia}} * {{flag|Malta}} * {{flag|Mauritania}} * {{flag|Monaco}} * {{flag|Mongolia}} * {{flag|Netherlands}} * {{flag|New Zealand}} * {{flag|Nigeria}} * {{flag|Northern Ireland}} * {{flag|Norway}} * {{flag|Pakistan}} * {{flag|Palestine}} * {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} * {{flag|Philippines}} * {{flag|Poland}} * {{flag|Republic of Ireland}} * {{flag|Romania}} * {{flag|Russia}} * {{flag|Scotland}} * {{flag|Serbia}} * {{flag|Singapore}} * {{flag|Slovakia}} * {{flag|Slovenia}} * {{flag|South Africa}} * {{flag|South Korea}} * {{flag|Spain}} * {{flag|Sweden}} * {{flag|Switzerland}} * {{flag|Thailand}} * {{flag|Trinidad & Tobago}} * {{flag|Tunisia}} * {{flag|Turkey}} * {{flag|Turks & Caicos}} * {{flag|Uganda}} * {{flag|Ukraine}} * {{flag|United Arab Emirates}} * {{flag|United States}} * {{flag|Wales}} * {{flag|Yemen}} {{div col end}}

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.<ref name=criteria>{{cite web|url=https://www.dartswdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-09-25_WDF_World_Ranking_Systems_Criteria_Seniors_rev_38.pdf |title=World Ranking Systems Criteria Seniors 38th ed. |publisher=World Darts Federation |at=7.01 Points Allocation Table |access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dartswdf.com/calendar/wdf-tournament-categories-points-allocations/ |website=WDF |access-date=22 October 2020|title=WDF Rules }}</ref> 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:''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dartswdf.com/calendar/wdf-tournament-categories-points-allocations/ |website=WDF |access-date=22 October 2020|title=WDF Rules }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#c7dcf6;" |- style="text-align:center;" | style="background:#efefef;"| Tournament category|| style="width:40px; background:lime;"|'''{{tooltip|W|Won tournament}}'''|| style="width:40px; background:thistle;"|{{tooltip|F|Finalist}}|| style="width:40px; background:#ff0;"|{{tooltip|SF|Semifinalist}}|| style="width:40px; background:#ffebcd;"|{{tooltip|QF|Quarterfinalist}}|| style="width:40px; background:#afeeee;"|{{tooltip|R16|Reached round of last 16}}|| style="width:40px; background:#afeeee;"|{{tooltip|R32|Reached round of last 32}}|| style="width:40px; background:#afeeee;"|{{tooltip|R64|Reached round of last 64}} |- style="background-color:#F3E6D7;" | [[List of WDF tournaments|WDF Platinum tournaments]] || 270|| 167 || 103 || 64 || 39 || 26 || 13 |- style="background-color:#FFFFCC;" |[[List of WDF tournaments|WDF Gold tournaments]] || 180 || 111 || 68 || 43 || 26 || 17 || 9 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9;" | [[List of WDF tournaments|WDF Silver tournaments]] || 90 || 56|| 34 || 21 || 13 || 9 |- style="background-color:#FFEA5C;" | [[List of WDF tournaments|WDF Bronze tournaments]] || 45 || 28 || 17 || 11 || 6 |}

==Current WDF World Rankings== The rankings are based on a cumulative points system similar to [[ATP rankings|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=WDF Ranking Systems: 2015 Monetary Awards|url=http://www.dartswdf.com/2015/12/13/wdf-world-rankings-systems-2015-monetary-awards/|publisher=WDF|date=13 December 2015|access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref>

In 2025, in response to a motion [[Anti-transgender movement in the United Kingdom|put forth]] by England and seconded by Scotland and Wales, the WDF voted to implement an immediate ban on [[Trans woman|transgender women]] from competing as women.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=John |date=30 July 2025 |title=Trans darts player vows not to let new anti-trans ban ruin her love of the sport |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/07/trans-darts-player-vows-not-to-let-new-anti-trans-ban-ruin-her-love-of-the-sport/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=LGBTQ Nation |language=en}}</ref> In accordance with the change in policy, the WDF renamed its "Men's" and "Boys'" events to "Open" and "Open Youth" events.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 July 2025 |title=WDF eligibility criteria announcement |url=https://dartswdf.com/news/wdf-eligibility-criteria-announcement |website=World Darts Federation |access-date=2 November 2025}}</ref>

{{Col-float}} {{#invoke:DartsRankings|list |WDF Rankings |1 |32| points_header=Points}} {{Col-float-break}} {{#invoke:DartsRankings|list |WDF Women's Rankings |1 |32| points_header=Points}} {{Col-float-end}}

==WDF World No1 men's and women's players (1976–current)== <ref>[http://www.dartswdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/RollOfHonor1984-2008.pdf WDF Roll of Honour (previous world number ones)]</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Men ! Women |- | '''1976''' | {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Alan Evans]] | No rankings |- | '''1977''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Lowe (darts player)|John Lowe]] | No rankings |- | '''1978''' | {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Leighton Rees]] | No rankings |- | '''1979''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe (2) | No rankings |- | '''1980''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Eric Bristow]] | No rankings |- | '''1981''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Bristow (2) | No rankings |- | '''1982''' | {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jocky Wilson]] | No rankings |- | '''1983''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Bristow (3) | No rankings |- | '''1984''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Bristow (4) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sandy Reitan |- | '''1985''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Bristow (5) | {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Lilian Barnett]] |- | '''1986''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe (3) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Linda Batten |- | '''1987''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bob Anderson (darts player)|Bob Anderson]] | {{flagicon|SWE}} Maarit Fagerholm |- | '''1988''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe (4) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Jayne Kempster |- | '''1989''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Bob Anderson (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sharon Colclough |- | '''1990''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Bristow (6) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sharon Colclough (2) |- | '''1991''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Sharon Colclough (3) |- | '''1992''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Rod Harrington]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mandy Solomons |- | '''1993''' | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Leo Laurens]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mandy Solomons (2) |- | '''1994''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Beaton]] | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} |- | '''1995''' | {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Richie Burnett]] | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (2) |- | '''1996''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Martin Adams]] | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (3) |- | '''1997''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Adams (2) | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (4) |- | '''1998''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ronnie Baxter]] | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Francis Hoenselaar]] |- | '''1999''' | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Raymond van Barneveld]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Trina Gulliver]] |- | '''2000''' | {{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (2) |- | '''2001''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mervyn King (darts player)|Mervyn King]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (3) |- | '''2002''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Walton (darts player)|John Walton]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (4) |- | '''2003''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Adams (3) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (5) |- | '''2004''' | {{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld (3) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (6) |- | '''2005''' | {{flagicon|NED}} Raymond van Barneveld (4) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (7) |- | '''2006''' | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Jelle Klaasen]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (8) |- | '''2007''' | {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Gary Anderson (darts player)|Gary Anderson]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (9) |- | '''2008''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Scott Waites]] | {{flagicon|NED}} Francis Hoenselaar (2) |- | '''2009''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tony O'Shea]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} Trina Gulliver (10) |- | '''2010''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Adams (4) | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (5) |- | '''2011''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} Scott Waites (2) | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (6) |- | '''2012''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stephen Bunting]] | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (7) |- | '''2013''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[James Wilson (darts player)|James Wilson]] | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (8) |- | '''2014''' | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alan Norris (darts player)|Alan Norris]] | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (9) |- | '''2015''' | {{PDCFlag|Darius Labanauskas}} | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (10) |- | '''2016''' | {{PDCFlag|Darius Labanauskas}} (2) | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (11) |- | '''2017''' | {{WDFFlag|Scott Mitchell}} | {{WDFWFlag|Aileen de Graaf}} |- | '''2018''' | {{WDFFlag|Jim Williams}} | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (12) |- | '''2019''' | {{PDCFlag|Nick Kenny}} | {{flagicon|NED}} Aileen de Graaf (2) |- | '''2020''' | {{WDFFlag|Wayne Warren}} | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (13) |- | '''2021''' | {{PDCFlag|Brian Raman}} | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (14) |- | '''2022''' | {{PDCFlag|Jelle Klaasen}} (2) | {{PDCFlag|Beau Greaves}} |- | '''2023''' | {{PDCFlag|Andy Baetens}} | {{PDCFlag|Beau Greaves}} (2) |- | '''2024''' | {{PDCFlag|Jimmy van Schie}} | {{PDCFlag|Beau Greaves}} (3) |- | '''2025''' | {{PDCFlag|Jimmy van Schie}} (2) | {{PDCFlag|Deta Hedman}} (15) |}

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 in darts|split from the BDO]] and they have their own world ranking system known as the [[PDC Order of Merit|Order of Merit]]. The players from the PDC are not included in the rankings because the BDO, the former British governing body of amateur darts, was the one recognised by the WDF.

==WDF tournaments== {{Main|List of WDF tournaments}}

==See also== * [[WDF World Darts Championship]] * [[BDO World Darts Championship]] * [[PDC World Darts Championship]] * [[World Professional Darts Championship]] ==References== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== * {{cite book|last1=Kramer|first1=Anne|title=The Ultimate Book of Darts A Complete Guide to Games, Gear, Terms, and Rules.|date=2013|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.|location=New York|isbn=9781626365261}} * {{cite book|last1=McNeely|first1=Scott|title=The ultimate book of sports|url=https://archive.org/details/ultimatebookofsp0000mcne|url-access=registration|date=2012|publisher=Chronicle Books|location=San Francisco|isbn=9781452121871}} * {{cite book|last1=editors|first1=John Nauright, Charles Parrish|title=Sports around the world : history, culture, and practice|date=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara, Calif.|isbn=9781598843002}}

==External links== *[http://www.dartswdf.com/ World Darts Federation (WDF)] *[http://www.planetdarts.tv/page/LadbrokesWorldChampionship Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)] *[http://www.dardscatalunya.cat/ Catalan Darts Federation (FCD)] *[http://www.latviadarts.com/ Latvia Darts Organisation (LDO)] *[http://www.pdodarts.pl/ Polish Darts Organisation (PDO)] *[http://www.federatiedarts.ro/ Romanian Darts Organisation (BDO)]

[[Category:Darts organizations]] [[Category:Sports organizations established in 1976]] [[Category:World Darts Federation| ]]