Many sports need to be divided into segments to keep the game moving. In tennis, for example, players would not simply carry on at one end scoring as many points as possible. Points are scored in order to win a game, enough games win a set, and enough sets wins the match. Darts is similar in this regard.
Players don’t just keep throwing and earning points. They need to get down to zero from a set score in order to win a leg, then a certain number of legs will win them the set. In turn, enough sets will win them the match.
Darts Legs
Basically put, a ‘leg’ is a single game within darts. Games tend to be played over a number of legs but are most often divided further into sets. Generally, sets are contested on a ‘first to’ basis, i.e., the ‘first to 3’ or the ‘first to 5’ legs. At the beginning of a leg of darts, players will begin with a score of 501.
The leg is finished when either player reaches zero, by throwing three darts at a time and scoring as highly as possible. To finish, they must hit a ‘double’ or a bullseye. When playing over several legs and sets, the player first to throw is alternated and is seen to have an advantage.
Darts Sets
Sets consist of a pre-determined number of legs. The set is over as soon as one player has won the requisite number of legs as explained above. In most cases, sets are made up of five legs meaning the first to win three wins (best out of 5). Some exceptions do exist within the game. In the World Masters for example, sets are won on a best of three (first to two) bases.
Famous Tournaments Using Sets
Matchplay is increasingly popular in darts, so not all big tournaments are decided using sets. In matchplay, a ‘best of x number of legs’ is used with no sets involved. This is the case with the Grand Slam of Darts, the UK Open and the Premier League.
These tournaments still use sets as a scoring system:
- World Masters: 3 legs per set
- PDC World Championship: 5 legs per set
- World Grand Prix: 5 legs per set
- WDF World Championship: 5 legs per set
The PDC World Championship is the tournament people will generally recognise the most.
Legs and Sets in the PDC World Championship
The good old-fashioned legs and sets formula is used in the PDC World Championship, a tournament which has grown exponentially since its inception in 1994. This is the tournament you will see coming live from Alexandra Palace in London (since 2008), with darts fans and celebrities in attendance, often holding up placards and slogans. Luke Littler won the 2025 version.
Here’s how many legs and sets were needed in the 2025 PDC World Championship, round by round: All sets during round one were played in a ‘best of 5 legs’ format, as well as in the non-deciding sets of all subsequent rounds. Other than in the first round, deciding sets were decided by the first player to win at least 3 legs. They would also need to be leading by 2 or more to win the set and the match. Should the set reach 5-5, then a sudden death leg was needed including a no throw for the bull.
| Round | Best of (sets) |
|---|---|
| First Round | 5 |
| Second Round | 5 |
| Third Round | 7 |
| Fourth Round | 7 |
| Quarter-Finals | 9 |
| Semi-Finals | 11 |
| Final | 13 |
Naturally, punters don’t want things to end too soon. Conversely, there are so many players involved in the early rounds that games need to be pushed through quicker. This can lead to some controversy. In a football tournament, every game from the first round to the final will be played over 90 minutes. There’s no shifting that. In sports such as darts and snooker however, the matches are elongated as the rounds go on.
With this, it could be said that a player who happens to win in a best of 13 final may have tired and gone on to lose over best of 17 had it been possible. That said, all players know the required number of sets before they play and the system is seen as fair. Here’s how the 2025 PDC World Championship Final played out in terms of legs and sets:
Best of 13 (First to 7)
| Set | Luke Littler | Michael van Gerwen | Score (sets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 (legs) | 1 (legs) | 1-0 |
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 2-0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 3-0 |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 4-0 |
| 5 | 1 | 3 | 4-1 |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 5-1 |
| 7 | 2 | 3 | 5-2 |
| 8 | 3 | 0 | 6-2 |
| 9 | 1 | 3 | 6-3 |
| 10 | 3 | 0 | 7-3 |
This is a fine example of a number of legs and sets being needed to separate properly two good players. In this match, Littler had a three-dart average of 102.73 to van Gerwen’s 100.69. That would appear very close, but that consistency led to Littler winning many more legs and ultimately pulling well clear for a 7-3 win.