Winmau World Masters Darts 2025 Predictions: Back the Bullet to defend title

The Masters darts has been rebranded after the iconic BDO tournament, the Winmau World Masters and the field and prize money have increased as a result.

As always, we've asked our darts expert Sean Rafferty to preview this event and give us his Winmau World Masters darts predictions...

History, Location and Format

The 2025 Winmau World Masters is the thirteenth running of this PDC event, which was originally just known as The Masters. With the rebrand comes a ranking status for the first time and a change in format to set play.

The tournament is held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, with this year's event running from Thursday, January 30th to Sunday, February 2nd and will be shown live on ITV4 in the UK.

The field has expanded from 16 to 32 and is formed from the top 24 ranked PDC players and eight more via a preliminary qualification round. The top 16 in the world will be seeded for the first round proper.

There has been just one multiple winner of this event, with Dutchman Michael van Gerwen winning the title on five occasions.

The defending champion is Stephen Bunting, who defeated van Gerwen 11-7 in last year's final to pick up his first televised PDC title. He also won the title this was named after twice in his former BDO days.

Prize Money

There is a increased prize fund in 2025 of £500,000 on offer to the participants.

Draw

Winmau World Masters Odds

1 units Stephen Bunting e/w (1/2 - 2 Places) @ 10/1

Bunting came oh so close to wrapping up our first outright winner of 2025, having narrowly lost 8-5 in last weekend’s Dutch Masters final against Rob Cross. The Bullet showed all of his battling qualities to make it a second final in as many weeks, having come through deciding legs successfully in all previous rounds against Gian Van Veen, Raymond Van Barneveld and Luke Littler. That run followed up victory at the Bahrain Masters, making it a very strong start to the year for the Liverpudlian.

Stephen has spoke a few times recently of working with a sports psychologist on the mental side of the game, it really seems to proving a difference maker for him at the moment, as he was already producing the level required to pick up titles but perhaps he lacked the belief to get over the line as frequently as he potentially could.

This week looks another sterling opportunity for The Bullet to go deep in a big tournament, considering he’s managed to avoid the likes of Littler, Humphries, MVG and Anderson in his quarter of the draw. Rob Cross could be his biggest obstacle again, but I think it’s safe to say that Bunting is the player holding the strongest form in that section, ahead of the likes of Cross, Michael Smith and Peter Wright.

He faces William Borland in his opening match, perhaps a bit of a surprise package from today’s qualifying event, but the Scot has proved in the past that he can perform on the biggest stages (how can anybody forget his nine darter to beat Bradley Brooks at Ally Pally). The frantic pace of that match should suit Bunting just fine and I think he’ll win that comfortably, he’ll then face Peter Wright or Kevin Doets which looks a 50/50 game between they two. Bunting looks to hold the stronger form over both so should make the QFs without too much fuss I reckon.

Bunting has made three finals in his last six events played, on top of making the World semi finals. His recent form is better than anybody in his half of the draw. With a misfiring Luke Humphries being the biggest name to get past to reach the final I’ll happily take double figure odds on the Scouser. Let’s hope for a “Bunting mental” weekend in Milton Keynes.

0.5 units Mike De Decker e/w (1/2 - 2 Places) @ 28/1

I was a pretty avid backer of Mike at the back end of last year, following his triumph at the World Grand Prix in October. Unfortunately, the Belgian failed to deliver at the Ally Pally which inevitably cost him in a number of ways - in my eyes, he looked in a great position to seal a debut in the upcoming Premier League, but thanks to that second round defeat to Luke Woodhouse he took himself out of contention for a PL spot and others ended up getting the nod over him, still wrongly in my opinion.

De Decker didn’t seem to take too kindly to being snubbed from the Premier League either and later took it upon himself to voice his discontent at being overlooked for the glamorous event. In hindsight, I don’t think this may be such a bad thing for Mike - he has all the attributes to be a top player, if ever I had to pick a weakness in him it would’ve been that he perhaps lacks a bit of aggression/killer instinct in his game. I think now with the bit between his teeth he may add that fiery side to his game, I really think the Belgian could play with a point to prove this year, he isn’t defending a lot of money so it’s a good chance to really improve that 24th spot in the rankings and really make inroads towards the top 16.

Unfortunately, he does have to contend with Luke Littler in his quarter yet again (a reoccurring theme for him since that Grand Prix win), however he showed at the Grand Slam he can give him a run for his money and Littler doesn’t look like he’s quite hitting full stride for the season just yet. He didn’t have an easy run to the Grand Prix so a similarly difficult looking path shouldn’t phase him here, it’s reflected in his odds anyway at a very juicy 28/1. This could be the start of a statement year for The Real Deal.

0.5 units Dave Chisnall e/w (1/2 - 2 Places) @ 40/1

I wasn’t sure if I’d see myself coming back to gambling on Dave so soon after a number of disappointing early round exits at big tournaments such as the World Championship, Players Championship Finals and Grand Slam.

There’s one thing Chizzy has always had though and that’s an ability to bounce back quickly from some indifferent form. I know that injury was playing it’s part in a number of they defeats I mentioned above as well, as he was struggling with his back. There’s been no mention of that in recent weeks from Dave so I’m hoping that’s not affecting his game at the moment.

He hasn’t played a lot of competitive darts at all recently - not professionally since that dramatic match against Ricky Evans at the Ally Pally, which he actually played pretty well in for large spells. He’s played a couple exhibitions with fellow pro’s recently - he won one of his most recent ones in Middlesbrough around a week ago, defeating Richie Burnett, Ritchie Edhouse and Callan Rydz which should give him a little confidence boost heading into this event.

There is question marks over a few of the biggest seeds in this quarter which eventually led to my decision in backing Chizzy - Gary Anderson was actually struggling with a shoulder injury in his defeat against Jeffrey De Graaf at the Worlds which wasn’t made very public, I haven’t heard another update about that so his physical fitness is up in the air as far as I know. MVG despite a defiant run to the World final, is showing some inconsistent form still and is a player Chizzy knows he can have the better of on his day.

Cameron Menzies looks a tough opponent to have first for Dave but form in the televised events continues to prove to be a real struggle for the flamboyant Scot. If Dave wins that which I expect him to then another very winnable tie against Aspinall or Gilding awaits. It looks a real opportunity to set up a clash against a big name like MVG or Anderson in the quarters, at massive odds of 33/1 I’m willing to take another chance on Chiz.

Darts Odds

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