Guides · Sets and legs · 12 min read
Darts sets and legs explained, with the World Championship format
A leg is one game of 501, played from 501 down to exactly zero. A set is a block of legs, usually the best of five, so the first player to win three legs takes it; at the PDC World Championship you need three sets to win in round one and seven in the final.
In short
- Leg: one game of 501, won with a checkout on a double.
- Set: usually best of 5 legs, so first to 3 legs.
- Best of 13 means first to 7. Half the number, rounded up.
- World Championship: 128 players, seven rounds, best of 5 sets up to best of 13.
- Deciding set: two clear legs needed, a sudden-death leg at 5-5.
The leg
What is a leg in darts?
A leg is a single game, almost always 501: each player starts on 501, subtracts every visit of three darts and has to finish on exactly zero with a double. Whoever gets there first wins the leg.
A leg in four lines
- Start501 each
- Visitup to 3 darts
- Finishzero, on a double
- Next legthe other starts
Going below zero, hitting zero without a double or leaving 1 is a bust, and the score goes back to where it was before that visit. Why the double matters and which routes to take are in the checkout chart; the full X01 rules are on the X01 page.
The set
What is a set in darts, and how many legs are in a set?
A set is a group of legs, and in nearly every set format it is the best of five legs: the first player to win three legs wins the set. Then the leg count goes back to 0-0 and the next set starts.
Why play sets at all?
Sets add a second layer to the score. A set lost 0-3 costs exactly as much as one lost 2-3, so a player can lose more legs than the opponent and still win the match.
Sets also give a long match a rhythm. Every few legs the count goes back to 0-0, and a bad patch stays inside one set.
- Legs per setBest of 5 at the World Championship, so first to 3. The PDC lists best of 3 legs per set for the World Masters.
- Sets per matchSet by the round: best of 5 sets in round one up to best of 13 in the World Championship final.
- Who startsA bull-off decides the first throw of the match. After that the throw alternates leg by leg.
The wording
What do “best of” and “first to” mean in darts?
Both describe the same match length from two sides. “Best of 5” counts the most legs or sets that can be played, “first to 3” counts how many you need to win, and you get one from the other by halving and rounding up.
| Best of | First to | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Best of 3 | First to 2 | a set at the World Masters |
| Best of 5 | First to 3 | a normal set; rounds 1 and 2 of the World Championship |
| Best of 7 | First to 4 | rounds 3 and 4 |
| Best of 9 | First to 5 | quarter-finals |
| Best of 11 | First to 6 | semi-finals |
| Best of 13 | First to 7 | the World Championship final |
Formats almost always use odd numbers, because an even “best of” could end level. Pub and league players mostly say “first to”, and TV graphics often show both.
Quick rule: first to N equals best of 2N minus 1. First to 6 legs is best of 11 legs, first to 7 sets is best of 13 sets.
The tie-break
How is the deciding set won at the World Championship?
The deciding set must be won by two clear legs. If it reaches 5-5, one sudden-death leg decides the match, so the last set can run to eleven legs instead of five.
- Normal setsFirst to 3 legs. A set can end 3-2, no lead of two needed.
- Deciding set reaches 2-2The tie-break starts: from now on a player needs to lead by two legs. 4-2 wins, 3-2 does not.
- Level again and again3-3, 4-4: play goes on until someone wins two legs in a row.
- 5-5One sudden-death leg. Its winner takes the set and the match.
No bull-off for the last leg. The PDC states that there is no throw for the bull in a sudden-death leg; the throw simply follows the usual order.
Ally Pally
What is the format of the PDC World Darts Championship?
The PDC World Championship is a knockout of 128 players over seven rounds, all played in sets of best of five legs. Matches get longer every round, from best of 5 sets in round one to best of 13 sets in the final.
The 2026/27 edition runs from Friday 11 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 at Alexandra Palace in London.
- 128players in the draw, seeds included
- 7matches in a row to win the title
- 13sets at most in the final
- 71legs at most in the final, 21 at least
Round by round
| Round | Players | Matches | Sets | To win | Legs per match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 128 | 64 | Best of 5 | First to 3 | 9 to 31 |
| Round 2 | 64 | 32 | Best of 5 | First to 3 | 9 to 31 |
| Round 3 (last 32) | 32 | 16 | Best of 7 | First to 4 | 12 to 41 |
| Round 4 (last 16) | 16 | 8 | Best of 7 | First to 4 | 12 to 41 |
| Quarter-finals | 8 | 4 | Best of 9 | First to 5 | 15 to 51 |
| Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | Best of 11 | First to 6 | 18 to 61 |
| Final | 2 | 1 | Best of 13 | First to 7 | 21 to 71 |
As of 11 October 2026. For 2026/27 the PDC has confirmed 128 players, set play and the dates. The round lengths and the tie-break are those the PDC published for 2025/26; the 2026/27 schedule of play usually comes out a few weeks before the start, so check it for any change.
What is new since 2025/26
- 128 instead of 96The field grew to 128 players for 2025/26, and the 32 seeds now start in round one instead of round two.
- The Great HallFor 2026/27 the event moves into Ally Pally’s Great Hall, with over 5,000 seats per session across 36 sessions.
- A Sunday finalThe 2026/27 final is on Sunday 3 January 2027.
- £1 millionThe winner’s prize, doubled for 2025/26, with the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Sources: PDC, 2025/26 World Championship schedule and format, 2026/27 dates and Great Hall, tournament page and rules of darts; all checked on 11 October 2026.
Other formats
How do other darts tournaments count, in legs or in sets?
Most PDC events are played in legs only: the match is simply first to a number of legs, such as best of 11 legs, which is first to 6. Sets are kept for a few majors, above all the World Championship.
Legs format
- Most PDC events, most leagues and pub matches
- The match is first to N legs
- Every leg counts the same until the end
Set format
- World Championship, World Grand Prix, World Masters
- Legs restart at 0-0 in every set
- Legs won in a lost set count for nothing
- World Grand PrixPlayed in sets, and with double in as well as double out, according to the PDC.
- World MastersSets as well, but the PDC lists each set as best of three legs.
- Leagues and the pubUsually a few legs per game, often best of 3 or 5. Check your league’s rules.
- Sridu tournamentsThe tournament mode plays every match in legs, first to as many as you set.
If a term on the scoreboard is new to you, from “break of throw” to “whitewash”, the darts terms guide explains it.
At home
How do you play sets and legs yourself?
Set the match length before the first dart and keep the score for sets and legs as well as for points. In Sridu that is two choices in the X01 setup, and the app keeps count of legs and sets for you.
The World Championship format in four steps
- Open X01play.sridu.com/#/play/x01 opens the setup with 501 and Double Out.
- Legs: First to 3With sets switched on, this is the length of each set, best of 5 legs as on TV.
- Sets: First to 3That is round one. For later rounds type 4, 5, 6 or 7 into the free field.
- Who throws firstPick Bull-off if you want to bull for the throw. After that the throw alternates every leg.
| World Championship round | Legs | Sets |
|---|---|---|
| Rounds 1 and 2 | First to 3 | First to 3 |
| Rounds 3 and 4 | First to 3 | First to 4 |
| Quarter-finals | First to 3 | First to 5 |
| Semi-finals | First to 3 | First to 6 |
| Final | First to 3 | First to 7 |
What you see during the match
The line on top names the format, here first to 3 sets of 3 legs. Each player card shows the sets won and a dot for every leg won in the current set, and the line under the score says which set and leg you are in.
The caller announces “Game shot, and the set!” when a set falls, and the streamer overlay shows sets and legs on stream.
Watching the World Championship? Play the round you are watching in the break between sessions. A first to 3 sets match is at least nine legs, and against a computer opponent set to your own average it stays a fair fight.
Two things to know. Sridu ends a set as soon as one player reaches the target, so it has no two-clear-legs rule for the deciding set. Matches with a value typed into the free field, like first to 7 sets, play as usual but do not count for the leaderboards and records.
FAQ
Questions about sets and legs
How many legs are in a set in darts?
Usually five: a set is the best of five legs, so the first player to win three legs takes it. That is the rule at the PDC World Championship. Shorter sets of best of three legs exist too; the PDC lists them for the World Masters.
How many sets are in the World Darts Championship final?
The final is the best of 13 sets, so the first player to win seven sets is world champion. With five legs per set that is at least 21 legs and, with the tie-break, at most 71.
What happens at 2-2 in the deciding set?
The tie-break starts. A player now has to win the set by two clear legs, so 4-2 or 5-3 wins it. If it reaches 5-5, a single sudden-death leg decides the match, with no bull-off.
What is the difference between a set and a leg?
A leg is one game of 501 from the starting score to zero. A set is a block of legs, normally best of five, and a set match is won by winning a number of sets.
Who throws first in each leg and set?
A bull-off decides who throws first in the first leg. After that the throw alternates leg by leg, so a leg won against the throw, called a break, often swings a set.
How many players are in the World Darts Championship?
Since 2025/26 the PDC World Championship has 128 players, and all of them, the 32 seeds included, start in round one. The winner has to win seven matches in a row.
Can I play a match in sets in Sridu?
Yes. In the X01 setup choose the legs per set and the sets per match, from First to 2 up to any number up to 99 in the free field. Sridu counts legs and sets and alternates the throw for you.
Play a match in sets tonight
Open X01 in your browser, set Legs to First to 3 and Sets to First to 3, and play round one of the World Championship against a friend or the computer. With webcams Sridu scores every dart by itself; without them you tap your darts in.