The PDC World Darts Championship is the biggest of the PDC tournaments beginning in late December and finishing in early January. The tournament is currently sponsored by Ladbrokes.com and having been staged at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet since its inception will move to the Alexandra Palace from 2008. Only 4 players have ever won this inception of the World Championships. Dennis Priestley, Phil Taylor, John Part and Raymond van Barneveld. Phil Taylor has dominated this tournament in particular winning 11 titles however Raymond van Barneveld is the current champion having won a remarkable final against Taylor on New Year's Day 2007. Origin In 1994 some high profile players including all previous winners of the BDO World Darts Championship who were still active in the game formed the WDC (now PDC), and began to organise their own World Championships. Dennis Priestley won the inaugural competition. There are still two versions of the World Championship and there is often dispute and debate amongst players, organisations and viewers as to which event is the more prestigious. The PDC event boasts the largest prize fund of any darts competition, currently at £600,000 in total with £100,000 for the winner. The PDC and sponsors Ladbrokes have announced that prize money will reach £1 million by 2010 with the winner set to collect £200,000. | 
