Special features
Player Profiles
1-Phil Taylor
| Date of birth | 13.08.60 |
| Home town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Nickname | The Power |
| Major titles | World Championship (14 times), World Masters (once), World Matchplay (10 times), World Grand Prix (nine times), Grand Slam (three times), Premier League (four times), Las Vegas Desert Classic (five times), European Championship (twice), UK Open (three times), US Open (three times) |
| World Championship best | Winner (14 times) |
| Walk-on music | The Power |
Even by Taylor's exceedingly high standards this has been a stellar year with him winning a 'Power Slam' of the five TV majors for the first time.
Full Profile
2-Raymond van Barneveld
| Date of birth | 20.04.67 |
| Home town | Den Haag (Holland) |
| Nickname | Barney |
| Major titles | World Championship (five times), World Masters (twice), Las Vegas Desert Classic (once), UK Open (twice) |
| World Championship best | Winner (five times) |
| Walk-on music | Eye of the Tiger |
It has been a rollercoaster ride for the Dutchman in 2009 but he will hope to end on a high at Alexandra Palace.
Full Profile
3-James Wade
| Date of birth | 06.04.83 |
| Home town | Aldershot |
| Nickname | The Machine |
| Major titles | World Matchplay (once), World Grand Prix (once), UK Open (once), Premier League (once) |
| World Championship best | Semi-finals (2009) |
| Walk-on music | Two Tribes |
Like Raymond van Barneveld, Wade has experienced something of an up-and-down year in 2009.
Full Profile
4-John Part
| Date of birth | 29.06.66 |
| Home town | Oshawa (Canada) |
| Nickname | Darth Maple |
| Major titles | World Championship (three times), Las Vegas Desert Classic (once) |
| World Championship best | Winner (three times) |
| Walk-on music | The Imperial March |
Given Phil Taylor's supremacy it's not surprise that his nearest rivals haven't had the best of years in 2009, but it's been a really barren one for Part.
Full Profile
5-Mervyn King
| Date of birth | 15.03.66 |
| Home town | Bradwell |
| Nickname | The King |
| Major titles | World Masters (once) |
| World Championship best | Runner-up (twice) |
| Walk-on music | King of Kings |
Mervyn King has been continuing his rise up the PDC ranks and has tasted big-game success against Taylor this year.
Full Profile
6-Terry Jenkins
| Date of birth | 26.09.63 |
| Home town | Ledbury |
| Nickname | The Bull |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-finals (2007) |
| Walk-on music | Wooly Bully |
Can one of the most consistent performers on the circuit finally land a big title at Alexandra Palace?
Full Profile
7-Ronnie Baxter
| Date of birth | 02.05.61 |
| Home town | Blackpool |
| Nickname | Rocket |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Runner-up (twice) |
| Walk-on music | Don't Stop Me Now |
Back in the top 10 in the Order of Merit, Baxter has looked back to something approaching his best at times this year.
Full Profile
8-Adrian Lewis
| Date of birth | 21.01.85 |
| Home town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Nickname | Jackpot |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-Finals (twice) |
| Walk-on music | Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag |
Perhaps the most naturally talented thrower in the game today, Lewis is still to win his first major title.
Full Profile
9-Dennis Priestley
| Date of birth | 16.07.50 |
| Home town | Mexborough |
| Nickname | The Menace |
| Major titles | World Championship (twice), World Masters (once) |
| World Championship best | Winner (twice) |
| Walk-on music | Hell Raiser |
Just seven months short of his 60th birthday, Priestley is back in the top 10 in the Order of Merit despite having battled prostate cancer.
Full Profile
10-Colin Lloyd
| Date of birth | 07.08.73 |
| Home town | Chelmsford |
| Nickname | Jaws |
| Major titles | World Matchplay (once), World Grand Prix (once) |
| World Championship best | Semi-Finals (2002) |
| Walk-on music | Monster |
Former world number one Lloyd has finally found some upward momentum this season after a dramatic fall down the rankings.
Full Profile
11-Colin Osborne
| Date of birth | 19.06.75 |
| Home town | Derby |
| Nickname | The Wizard |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-finals (2007) |
| Walk-on music | Unbelievable |
Osborne's climb through the ranks continued in 2009 as he reached another major final and won the Championship League.
Full Profile
12-Alan Tabern
| Date of birth | 29.09.66 |
| Home town | St Helens |
| Nickname | The Saint |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-Finals (2007) |
| Walk-on music | The Saints Are Coming |
Tabern is another who will be happy to see the back of 2009, having slipped down the Order of Merit after a pretty forgettable year.
Full Profile
13-Mark Walsh
| Date of birth | 01.02.65 |
| Home town | Abbots Langley |
| Nickname | Walshie |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Second Round (four times) |
| Walk-on music | Rock N Roll Star |
A career-best four titles for Walsh puts him second only to Phil Taylor in the Players Championship Order of Merit.
Full Profile
14-Andy Hamilton
| Date of birth | 16.03.67 |
| Home town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Nickname | The Hammer |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Semi-Finals (2007) |
| Walk-on music | Can't Touch This |
Hamilton has slipped down the Order of Merit no fewer than seven places this year.
Full Profile
15-Kevin Painter
| Date of birth | 12.07.67 |
| Home town | Daventry |
| Nickname | The Artist |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Runner-up (once) |
| Walk-on music | I Predict A Riot |
Painter remains most well-known for his involvement in one of the most epic World Championship finals ever.
Full Profile
16-Robert Thornton
| Date of birth | 17.07.67 |
| Home town | Stevenson |
| Nickname | The Thorn |
| Major titles | World Masters (once) |
| World Championship best | Quarter-finals (twice) |
| Walk-on music | I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) |
Thornton is the highest-placed newcomer in the top 32 as he continues to impress since his switch from the BDO.
Full Profile
17-Wayne Mardle
| Date of birth | 10.05.73 |
| Home town | Romford |
| Nickname | Hawaii 501 |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Semi-Finals (five times) |
| Walk-on music | Theme from Hawaii 5-0 |
Mardle must be wondering if he ran over a black cat during his Christmas break back in Essex last year.
Full Profile
18-Vincent van der Voort
| Date of birth | 18.12.75 |
| Home town | Purmerend (Holland) |
| Nickname | Greased Lightning |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-finals (once) |
| Walk-on music | Greased Lightnin' |
Officially the fastest thrower on the circuit, blink and you might miss Vincent van der Voort.
Full Profile
19-Steve Beaton
| Date of birth | 05.04.64 |
| Home town | Southam |
| Nickname | The Bronzed Adonis |
| Major titles | World Championship (once), World Masters (once) |
| World Championship best | Winner (1996) |
| Walk-on music | Stayin Alive |
Beaton has rolled back the years in 2009 and you need look no further than the Players Championship Order of Merit for proof.
Full Profile
20-Peter Manley
| Date of birth | 07.03.62 |
| Home town | Carlisle |
| Nickname | One Dart |
| Major titles | Las Vegas Desert Classic (once) |
| World Championship best | Runner-up (three times) |
| Walk-on music | Amarillo |
For the second successive year the PDC's pantomime villain has had a season to forget in ranking terms.
Full Profile
21-Mark Dudbridge
| Date of birth | 11.01.73 |
| Home town | Bristol |
| Nickname | Flash |
| Major titles | World Masters (once) |
| World Championship best | Runner-up (once) |
| Walk-on music | Flash Gordon |
Dudbridge is still attempting to rediscover the form which saw him come within a whisker of clinching the world title.
Full Profile
22-Wayne Jones
| Date of birth | 24.04.65 |
| Home town | Wolverhampton |
| Nickname | Woody |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Semi-finals (Once) |
| Walk-on music | Enter Sandman |
Jones returns to Alexandra Palace for the third time this winter still looking for his first win at the venue.
Full Profile
23-Denis Ovens
| Date of birth | 01.07.57 |
| Home town | Stevenage |
| Nickname | The Heat |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-finals (once) |
| Walk-on music | The Heat Is On |
A great floor player, Ovens is one of the most consistent throwers on the circuit.
Full Profile
24-Jelle Klaasen
| Date of birth | 17.10.84 |
| Home town | Breda (Holland) |
| Nickname | The Matador |
| Major titles | World Championship (once) |
| World Championship best | Winner (2006) |
| Walk-on music | Sex on Fire |
Klaasen is the youngest player ever to win the world title after beating Raymond van Barnveveld at the Lakeside.
Full Profile
25-Wes Newton
| Date of birth | 27.08.77 |
| Home town | Fleetwood |
| Nickname | 'Av it |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Second round (three times) |
| Walk-on music | Crazy Crazy Nights |
Newton heads into his sixth World Championship just weeks after winning his first ranking title on tour.
Full Profile
26-Jamie Caven
| Date of birth | 10.03.76 |
| Home town | Derby |
| Nickname | Jabba |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Second round (2008) |
| Walk-on music | Lust for Life |
Caven's rise to the upper echelons of the darting world has been a real story of success against all the odds.
Full Profile
27-Andy Smith
| Date of birth | 22.06.67 |
| Home town | Studley |
| Nickname | The Pieman |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Third round (once) |
| Walk-on music | Home Cooked Cookin' |
Smith is one of the most charismatic players on the PDC circuit, with an infectious laugh and unquenchable appetite.
Full Profile
28-Co Stompe
| Date of birth | 10.10.62 |
| Home town | Amsterdam (Holland) |
| Nickname | The Matchstick |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Semi-finals (2000) |
| Walk-on music | Rockin' All Over the World |
Eighteen months into his PDC career and Stompe's steady rise up the rankings has continued.
Full Profile
29-Kirk Shepherd
| Date of birth | 05.10.86 |
| Home town | Ramsgate |
| Nickname | Karate Kid |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Runner-up (Once) |
| Walk-on music | 20th Century Boy |
Shepherd nearly produced the fairytale of all fairytales two years ago when he came out of nowhere to make the final at Ally Pally.
Full Profile
30-Michael van Gerwen
| Date of birth | 25.04.89 |
| Home town | Boxtel (Holland) |
| Nickname | Mighty Mike |
| Major titles | World Masters (Once) |
| World Championship best | Second round (once) |
| Walk-on music | Tribal Dance |
'Mighty Mike' is a Dutch darting starlet who could be one of the dominant forces of the sport in years to come.
Full Profile
31-Tony Eccles
| Date of birth | 08.01.70 |
| Home town | Hartlepool |
| Nickname | The Viper |
| Major titles | None |
| World Championship best | Quarter-finals (2007) |
| Walk-on music | Rock This Party |
Eccles switched to the PDC in the summer of 2007 after a successful career in the rival BDO.
Full Profile
32-Roland Scholten
| Date of birth | 11.11.65 |
| Home town | Den Haag (Holland) |
| Nickname | Tripod |
| Major titles | UK Open (once) |
| World Championship best | Semi-finals (1998) |
| Walk-on music | Chelsea Dagger |
Scholten needs a big World Championship to stop his continual slide down the world rankings.
Full Profile
Darts
-
watch now
Whitlock hits top 4
-
watch now
Barney praises new darts
-
watch now
King - It's a healthy rivalry
-
watch now
Still no win for Wade
-
watch now
Tungsten teaching from Lewis
-
watch now
My Sky login required
Wade v Baxter
-
watch now
My Sky login required
Taylor v King
-
watch now
Taylor v van Barneveld - Taylor
Experts & Blogs
Seeds of doubt
Sid Waddell explains which seeds could tumble in the opening rounds at Alexandra Palace.
Baffling the boffins
Sid Waddell explains how a rocket scientist is helping Phil Taylor's quest for darts perfection.
Features
Taylor for England!
Where next for Phil Taylor? Perhaps a spot on Fabio Capello's coaching staff, says Sid Waddell.
Darts' boos problem?
As darts grows in popularity, is crowd behaviour getting out of hand? skysports.com investigates.
Around Sky Sports today
Win FRijj Home Footie Kit
Win a Sony home cinema system, PS3, FIFA 10 and much more with FRijj
Beyond A Game
England v Barbarians - Win the Ultimate Rugby ExperienceEnter Now
Make The Difference
Man Utd v Fulham - have your say on the big match.