In the electrifying realm of professional darts, where every throw can mean the difference between glory and defeat, a bold move off the oche has set tongues wagging across the sport’s fervent fanbase. Matthew Edgar, a seasoned darts player ranked No. 39 in the world, has pulled back the curtain on the financial realities of competing at the highest level by sharing his Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) payslip from the World Darts Championship. With the sport riding a tidal wave of popularity—thanks in no small part to the meteoric rise of teenage sensation Luke Littler—Edgar’s revelation offers a sobering glimpse into what players actually take home from the glittering prize pots dangled before them at Alexandra Palace.
The timing couldn’t be more dramatic. Just as the PDC announced a jaw-dropping doubling of the World Championship prize fund to £5 million for 2026—meaning next year’s winner could pocket a cool £1 million—Edgar’s leaked payslip paints a starkly different picture for those not hoisting the trophy. “That doesn’t mean what you get paid as a player,” he explained in a candid TikTok video, his tone a mix of frustration and clarity as he broke down the numbers. For a first-round defeat that earned him £6,800, deductions whittled his winnings down to a modest £5,200. It’s a figure that stands in sharp contrast to the £500,000 Littler scooped for his triumphant 2025 title run, underscoring the financial chasm between the sport’s elite and its rank-and-file.
Edgar’s expose delves into the nitty-gritty of a darts player’s earnings. “There are deductions which need to come off this,” he said, detailing a laundry list of costs that chip away at the headline prize money. As self-employed contractors, PDC players face a 2% levy on all earnings—whether you’re a rookie or a world champion—siphoning off funds before they even hit the bank. Add to that a £500 annual membership fee, plus a DRA fee, and the take-home pay shrinks further. “We get remittance notices,” Edgar noted, emphasizing that unlike a traditional paycheck, these payouts come with strings attached, from taxes to travel expenses that players often cover out of pocket.
The backdrop to Edgar’s disclosure is a sport in the midst of a golden era. Littler’s fairy-tale victory at 18, capped by a thrashing of Michael van Gerwen in the 2025 final, has catapulted darts into the mainstream, drawing record crowds and swelling prize pots. The 2025 championship boasted £2.5 million, with 96 players vying for a slice—and bonuses like the £60,000 nine-darter payouts claimed by Damon Heta and Christian Kist adding extra sparkle. Yet, Edgar’s story reveals a less glamorous truth for many. His deepest World Championship run, to the second round in 2021, was “even worse” financially, he admitted, as extended hotel stays and COVID-era tests ate into his earnings.
For Edgar, a three-time Alexandra Palace contender nicknamed “Prime Time,” this isn’t just about numbers—it’s personal. The Daventry ace has carved out a niche as a straight-talking voice in darts, using his platform to demystify a profession often shrouded in myths of easy riches. “It’s not as ‘Pally’ as you might imagine,” he quipped, a nod to the iconic venue where dreams are made and, for some, quietly tempered by reality. His career earnings— dwarfed by the £1.8 million of Luke Humphries or Littler’s £1.1 million—reflect the hustle of a mid-tier pro, where every tournament is a gamble between prize money and mounting costs.
The PDC’s bold move to hike the 2026 prize fund signals ambition, with chairman Eddie Hearn heralding “unprecedented investment” as darts cements its status as a global powerhouse. For top dogs like Littler, who could double his haul if he defends his crown, the rewards are dazzling. But Edgar’s leak shines a light on the broader field, where players like him scrape by on fractions of the publicized sums. “All players are self-employed contractors, not employees,” he stressed, a reminder that behind the oche’s bright lights lies a gig economy where only the elite truly cash in. As darts soars, Edgar’s payslip is a gritty footnote—a tale of resilience, transparency, and the stark divide between the sport’s haves and have-nots.
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