The iconic PDC World Darts Championship has become one of British sport’s favourite times of the year and is on the verge of returning with a huge new audience.
The showpiece event, held between December 15 and January 3, is traditionally watched by millions at home and takes place at a packed Alexandra Palace with Luke Littler’s rise attracting new eyes.
Fancy dress, plenty of chanting and multiple pints are the norm and ‘Ally Pally’ will turn green this year as Paddy Power continues as the competition’s sponsor.
Stars such as Littler, reigning champion Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld, Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith have become household names and a new champion is set to be crowned.
But, what is life like for the people behind these players and their WAGS?
Here, Mail Sport takes a look…
Luke Humphries is hoping to retain his title after becoming world champion in January
Luke Littler’s rise has attracted thousands of new supporters to the well-loved sport
One darts star is married to a former walk-on girl and has been with her since 2015
Luke Humphries – Kayley Jones
What better place to start than with the reigning world champion and what a year it’s been for the 29-year-old who in May celebrated his engagement to Kayley Jones.
The pair have been long-term partners and ‘Cool Hand Luke’ decided to pop the question in a ‘perfect moment’ overlooking the New York City skyline earlier in the year.
The pair shared the news on Instagram at the time, posting several pictures of Humphries, 29, bending the knee, while several members of the sporting world took to the social media platform to congratulate the couple.
Kayley – unlike some of the other darts world WAGs – keeps a low profile on social media and largely uses the platform to showcase Luke’s achievements, trips abroad and the two children they raise together.
The pair spend family time together with their two children, Grace, born in 2013, and Rowan Ellis, born on October 9, 2022.
Kayley is expected to be in attendance throughout Luke’s participation in the World Championship as the 29-year-old attempts to defend his world title.
Reigning world champion Luke Humphries celebrated his engagement to Kayley Jones in May
Humphries proposed to his long-term partner in New York earlier in the year
Luke Littler – Mystery girlfriend
What a whirlwind 12 months it’s been for Littler, who this time last year was a name that barely anyone had heard of. Now, as the World Championship looms, he is the sport’s most popular figure.
It was at the Alexandra Palace that the 17-year-old went on a dream run against the odds to reach the final on his debut outing and since then has been the teen that has attracted swathes of new support to the oche.
Littler will head into the World Championship as one of the pre-competition favourites, but will this time be without the support of his former girlfriend Eloise Milburn who was a constant presence at his big matches and tournament triumphs.
The pair had a four-year age gap with Milburn being 21 and Littler 17 at the time of their split in July, but does the darts prodigy have a new girlfriend on the scene?
Despite wanting to maintain some privacy, Littler may have revealed the first shoots of a new blossoming romance thanks to a clumsy microphone gaffe in October.
The darts sensation was live streaming himself in a video game boxing match against popular streamer ‘angryginge13’, also known as Morgan Burtwistle, when an unidentified female voice spoke down his microphone.
‘I’m gonna try and get some sleep because I’m so tired,’ said a female voice down Littler’s microphone – and instantly Burtwistle pounced on the moment and mocked his friend.
It’s yet to be seen whether Littler will have the support of a new love at the Ally Pally when his competition gets started on Saturday, December 21.
What a whirlwind 12 months it’s been for Luke Littler who arrives at the Ally Pally as one of the favourites
Littler broke up with his former girlfriend Eloise Milburn (pictured) earlier in the year
YouTuber ‘Angry Ginge’ previously heard a girl in the background while streaming with Littler
Michael van Gerwen – Daphne van Gerwen
The Dutchman is one of the biggest names in the sport, having spent seven years in a row between 2014 to 2021 at world No1, while he is also a three-time PDC world champion – and hoping to make that four at the oche this time round.
He married wife Daphne in 2014 in the Netherlands and the couple have two kids together, Zoe and Mike.
Daphne – who is regularly spotted in attendance with family at the World Championship – is a former hairdresser but has developed her own following on social media over recent times.
She now has more than 33,000 followers on Instagram and regularly uses her profile to show off her glamorous lifestyle and trips around the world alongside husband Michael and their children.
This includes several snaps of trips to places such as Ibiza, Disneyland, Dubai, the Maldives and even Curacao.
Daphne van Gerwen married darts legend Michael in 2014 and they have two kids together
Daphne is a former hairdresser and has over 30,000 followers on her Instagram account
Michael Smith – Dagmara Smith
St Helens-born Michael Smith is known as a family man and has enjoyed a blossoming love with his long-term partner, Dagmara Smith, who is three years younger than him.
Dagmara was born in Poland and married Smith back in 2019, and along with their two kids, is often seen in attendance at his events.
She previously played darts at a regional level and was there for Smith’s famous victory over Van Gerwen in the 2023 final – but only after she insisted.
Smith – who described Dagmara as his ‘personal chef’ in one Instagram post – told the Live Darts YouTube channel before the final: ‘They’ll (my family) be here. She’s already said she’s coming.
‘I said she’s not allowed and then she swore at me and said “I’m coming”. Just watching their faces, I know their faces will be even brighter and bigger if I do get that trophy.’
Smith’s reservations come as he is one of several players who are extremely superstitious and ahead of the World Championship getting started will undoubtedly be playing the early rounds without his partner and kids present.
Michael Smith is known as a family man and has been married to wife Dagmara since 2019
In one Instagram post, Smith – who has two kids with Dagmara – called her his ‘personal chef’
Raymond van Barneveld – Julia Evans
Darts icon Raymond van Barneveld tied the knot with Julia Evans – who is 18 years his junior – last year, with the British woman becoming his second wife.
Van Barneveld, 57, was previously married to Silvia for 25 years but they split in January 2019 amid marriage difficulties.
Their divorce came after Silvia appeared in court to give evidence about the armed burglary of their family home in The Hague, Netherlands.
Reports claimed he dumped Silvia for Julia, who is an avid fan of darts, with the couple meeting when the Dutchman was competing at a tournament in Southampton.
After previously working for TFL, Evans is now Van Barneveld’s assistant manager.
Her LinkedIn page highlights ‘organising meetings’ and ‘managing his calendar’ among the roles of her job.
Their wedding took place in Cyprus in September 2023 and they have now been together for five years.
Raymond van Barneveld is married to Julia Evans, who is a British woman and huge darts fan
Van Barneveld and Evans married last year and she now works as his assistant manager
Gerwyn Price – Bethan Price
There are few figures in darts quite as polarising as Gerwyn Price, but away from the fanfare he is firmly in love with his childhood sweetheart, Bethan. The pair have been together since they were 17.
They have two daughters together and met when growing up in the village of Markham, Wales, which had a population of just 1,495 people at the last census.
Price, also known as ‘The Iceman’, is advised on the business side of his profession by Bethan, who is a sports manager.
She helps to handle day-to-day operations, endorsement deals and media relations for Price.
Price – who is a former rugby player – married her in 2018 and is regularly seen travelling to and from events with his partner.
Gerwyn Price is married to childhood sweetheart Bethan after they met in their teenage years
Bethan advises him on business matters and they are often travelling to events together
Peter Wright – Joanne Wright
As far as partners go in playing an integral part in success, Peter Wright’s wife Joanne has a starring role to play as the former world champion’s hairdresser.
The ‘Snakebite’ is one of the most-loved players on the circuit, most notably because of his crazy haircuts that has previously seen him take things up a level by appearing as the Grinch during one match at last year’s tournament.
Joanne is the mastermind behind Wright’s iconic trims and each year she manages to successfully stun the Ally Pally crowd who adore ‘Snakebite’s’ style.
The pair met when Wright was a pot washer in a Warner’s holiday camp kitchen at the age of 22, while Joanne was working as a waitress at the same venue.
It was there that their romance blossomed and Joanne supported her husband through his first year as a professional player that saw him win just £1,200 in prize money before later going on to become one of the world’s best.
Heading into the start of another huge tournament, the two-time world champion will be showcasing a myriad of crazy hair creations, while any winnings will also be managed by his wife who is responsible for their finances.
Peter Wright’s wife Joanne has a starring role to play as the former world champion’s hairdresser
Joanne (left) and Peter have been married for years after previously meeting when the darts star was just 22
James Wade – Sammi Marsh-Wade
James Wade has been competing in PDC events since 2004 and while he has had less success in recent years, he is still widely regarded as one of the greatest darts players of all time.
Despite recently admitting that Christmas is a ‘s***’ time to play in the PDC’s biggest event, the 41-year-old will once again be given a hero’s welcome at the Ally Pally such is his longevity in the game.
He married former walk-on girl and model Sammi Marsh-Wade in 2015 and the couple have two children together – who Wade dotes on as a father.
Wade, who has a reported net worth of around £3million, has repeatedly faced accusations Sammi was only with him for the money.
However, Wade has always denied this and once said: ‘All the doubters had to shut up when they realised we were so strong – she is my rock.’
James Wade married former glamour model and walk-on girl Sammi Marsh-Wade in 2015
The couple have two young children together and Wade described Sammi as his ‘rock’
Wade, who has a reported net worth of around £3million, has repeatedly faced accusations Sammi was only with him for the money
Fallon Sherrock – Cameron Menzies
Fallon Sherrock continues to break down barriers as one of the few female professional darts players in the game and arrives at another World Championship with renewed vigour to beat the best.
Away from the oche, she is in a relationship with fellow darts player Cameron Menzies who is a feature on the PDC Pro Tour.
Menzies, 35, is five years Sherrock’s senior and hails from Glasgow, with the pair now living together in Milton Keynes as their relationship continues to progress.
Fallon Sherrock (left) is in a relationship with fellow darts player Cameron Menzies (centre)
Menzies, who hails from Glasgow, spoke about the joys of his partner also being a darts star
As of November, he is ranked at world No39, which is higher than his partner’s position of 111.
Amazingly, Menzies still combines his love of darts with work as a plumber having renewed his plumbing contract just last month, but last year spoke about the joys of being in a relationship with another star of the sport.
He told Sky Sports: ‘We enjoy our practice together and she is a very class player. She has done well for darts in general and is banging in 90 averages and 100 averages, the same as a lot of women.
‘I’m quite lucky I’ve got a very good partner who can play darts. It’s good in the house unless she beats me and I’ve got to make the food. I don’t like it when she beats me.’
