Finals Night Format Breakdown: How Many Legs Do They Actually Play?

By Lewis Barnett 29 May, 2025 4 mins read 55 Views

God, I love Finals Night.

Been covering darts for about seven years now, and there's still something electric about watching these four players duke it out at the O2. This year feels different though - Luke Littler's sitting pretty at the top after absolutely demolishing everyone during the regular season. Kid finished with 45 points. Forty-five! That's just ridiculous when you think about it.

My colleague Dave texted me yesterday: "Think anyone can actually stop him?" Honestly? Not sure they can.

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The Format Gets Serious Real Quick

Here's where things get interesting (and where casual fans sometimes get confused). During teh regular season, everything's best of 11 legs - quick, punchy matches that keep the energy high week after week. But Finals Night? They throw that out the window completely.

Semi-finals jump to best of 19 legs - first to 10 wins. That's a proper test of endurance and mental strength. I've seen players completely fall apart around the 12-leg mark when the pressure really starts building.

Then the final cranks it up even more: best of 21 legs, first to 11. It's brutal. Beautiful, but brutal.

Who's Fighting Who (And Why It Matters)

The matchups are set based on regular season standings, which means:

Semi-finals:
Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries vs Nathan Aspinall

Littler gets to throw first in his semi (perks of finishing top), same with Humphries. Small advantage, but in a sport where millimeters matter, every edge counts.

Poor Gerwyn's going to have his work cut out for him. The Iceman's been solid this season, but Littler's been on another planet entirely.

Show Me The Money!

£275,000 to the winner. Quarter of a million pounds for one night's work.

Not bad for an 18-year-old, right? Even if you lose in the semis, you're walking away with £85,000. The runner-up gets £125,000, which honestly isn't terrible consolation for coming second.

What really gets me is how the prize structure works throughout the season. Littler already banked £60,000 just from his six nightly wins during regular play. Add that to his guaranteed semi-final money, and he's already looking at £145,000 minimum. Kid's having quite the year financially.

The Bull-Off Drama Nobody Talks About

Here's a detail most people miss: if you make the final, who throws first gets decided by a bull-off in the practice room. Away from cameras, away from crowd noise - just two players throwing for the center to see who gets that tiny psychological edge.

I watched Michael Smith lose a bull-off in 2022 and you could see it rattled him slightly. These little moments matter more than fans realize.

Tonight's going to be special. The O2's sold out, Littler's defending his title, and honestly? I can't wait to see if anyone can actually challenge the kid when it really counts. My money's on another Littler masterclass, but stranger things have happened in darts.

Finals Night always delivers drama.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I practice darts effectively if I'm playing alone?

Solo practice doesn't have to be boring—in fact, it's often more productive than casual games with friends. The key is having structured practice routines that target specific skills rather than just throwing randomly at the board.

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

How often should I replace my dartboard?

A quality sisal dartboard should last anywhere from 1-3 years with regular play, though this varies dramatically based on usage and care. Professional-grade boards like Winmau Blade 5 or Target Unicorn typically outlast budget options by a significant margin.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?

Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.

Statistics

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.

External Links

How To

Mastering Your Grip & Stance

There's no single "correct" way to hold a dart, but there are definitely wrong ways. Most players use 3 fingers (thumb, index, middle) with the dart resting primarily on the middle finger. Some pros use 4 or even 5 fingers, but I'd suggest starting with 3.