Defending champion John Henderson has a first-round bye but faces a tough opening match when he take on the winner of the encounter between Mark Dudbridge and Chris Mason. John Henderson won the title on his debut defeating Colin McGarry 5-0 in the 2024 final.

Simon 'The Wizard' Whitlock makes his seniors debut against Paul Hogan, while former BDO darts legends Martin Adams and Darryl Fitton rekindle their rivalry on the seniors circuit.

The fourth staging of the championship features 28 players battling for a record £50,000 top prize.

Image source, Getty Images

First round

Mark Dudbridge v Chris Mason

Derek Coulson v Mervyn King

Tony O'Shea v Lisa Ashton

Kevin Edwards v Mike Huntley

Richard Rowlands v Graham Usher

Neil Duff v Vincent van der Voort

Kevin Painter v Richie Burnett

Colin McGarry v Steve Beaton

Paul Hogan v Simon Whitlock

Martin Adams v Darryl Fitton

Jim McEwan v John Part

Ross Montgomery v Trina Gulliver

Second Round

John Henderson v Mark Dudbridge/Chris Mason

Derek Coulson/Mervyn King v Tony O'Shea/Lisa Ashton

Leonard Gates v Kevin Edwards/Mike Huntley

Richard Rowlands/Graham Usher v Neil Duff/Vincent Van der Voort

Richie Howson v Kevin Painter/Richie Burnett

Colin McGarry/Steve Beaton v Paul Hogan/Simon Whitlock

Robert Thornton v Martin Adams/Darryl Fitton

Jim McEwan/John Part v Ross Montgomery/Trina Gulliver

BBC iPlayer

The World Seniors Darts Championship returns this week and you can watch the action live across BBC Sport.

Our coverage of the event at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet begins on Wednesday, 19 February and runs to the final on Saturday, 22 February.

There will be live coverage of two sessions a day on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app, with selected coverage also on the Red Button.

BBC Coverage

Wednesday, 19 February

19:00-23:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

Thursday, 20 February

13:00-17:00 - Red Button, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

19:00-23:00 - Red Button, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

Friday, 21 February

13:00-17:00 - Red Button, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

19:00-23:00 - Red Button, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

Saturday, 22 February

13:00-17:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

19:00-23:00 - Red Button, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

BBC Sport

Darts has a reputation as being slightly less vigorous exercise then some of its cousins.

That may well be true, but in terms of meeting new people, finding a hobby and perfecting a difficult craft, it's as good a sport as any!

The traditional route into darts has long been through your local pub, but an era of increased professionalism has opened up paths into the sport outside of the pub.

Darts' increasing popularity as a spectator sport mean that few will be unfamiliar with the concept: two people take it in turns to throw darts at a board, scoring by landing them in sections awarding 1-20 points, with doubles and trebles available for each.

The British Darts Organisation, external and the Professional Darts Corporation, external are the two main governing bodies, and both offer their own routes into the sport.

Alternatively you can find local opportunities in Scotland, , externalWales,, external and Northern Ireland, external through their local governing bodies.