He Did It Again! CALIBURN’s Zong Xiaochen Secures Fifth PDC World Darts Championship Appearance

Yes, it’s him again! In a display of sheer dominance and unwavering consistency, CALIBURN’s Zong Xiaochen has once again booked his ticket to the grandest stage in darts, the PDC World Darts Championship.

On August 24th, Zong successfully defended his title in a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 PDC China Championship. This monumental victory marks the fifth time in his illustrious career that the Chinese darting powerhouse has earned the right to compete at the legendary Alexandra Palace.

Looking back at Zong Xiaochen's journey to the World Championship, he has repeatedly graced the highest stage in global darts:

Zong Xiaochen's journey to the World Championship

2017/18 PDC World Darts Championship

2019/20 PDC World Darts Championship

2023/24 PDC World Darts Championship

2024/25 PDC World Darts Championship

2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship (Forthcoming)

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About the PDC World Darts Championship

For the uninitiated, the PDC World Darts Championship is the undisputed zenith of professional darts. Held annually through the holiday season in London, England, it’s a high-stakes, single-elimination tournament featuring the world's absolute elite. This year, the stakes are higher than ever before. It marks the first year of a newly upgraded prize structure, boasting a staggering £5 million total prize pool, with a life-changing £1 million reserved for the champion.

Pathways to the Palace: How to Qualify

1. Top 40 from the PDC Order of Merit

   
   

2. Winner of the PDC China Championship

   
   

3. Winner and Runner-up of the PDC Asian Championship

   
   

4. Top 5 from the PDC Asian Tour Order of Merit

The Grueling Road to Victory

The Xi'an leg of the tournament was incredibly intense, encompassing both PDC China ProTour Stages 7-10 and the 2025 China Darts Championship.Zong Xiaochen achieved a top-four finish in one of the four ProTour events, ultimately securing third place in the overall standings to qualify for the main stage of the China Championship.

The main stage competition was fiercely contested. In the group stage, Zong Xiaochen was drawn with Cao Tianxiao and Yin Junlong. After a series of close matches where all three had wins and losses, Zong Xiaochen narrowly advanced based on leg difference. He then defeated Guangzhou player Xuan Jiepeng to reach the semi-finals, setting up a CALIBURN showdown against Han Xichen. Zong Xiaochen emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, progressing to the final.

An Epic Final: The "Zong-Zhan" Showdown

The final was the clash everyone had been waiting for – a blockbuster showdown between Zong Xiaochen and the formidable Zhan Qingyu.

Set 1: Zong exploded out of the gates, firing on all cylinders. He smashed in four 180s, including three consecutive perfect 180s to open his first three legs. He wrapped up the first set with ease, taking a dominant 1-0 lead.

Set 2: Zhan immediately adjusted his game, found his rhythm, and fired right back, leveling the match at one set apiece.

Set 3: The match tightened into a tense, strategic battle. With the pressure mounting, Zong demonstrated his world-class composure, nailing several crucial checkouts to take the set 3-1 in legs. He moved to a 2-1 lead, just one set away from the title.

Set 4: With his back against the wall, Zhan came out swinging, storming to a 2-0 lead in legs and threatening to force a deciding set. But Zong, with the World Championship in his sights, dug deep. Trailing 0-2, he produced a stunning 12-dart leg to stop the bleeding and sound the charge. That single leg broke Zhan’s momentum. Zong seized the opportunity, reeling off the next three consecutive legs to clinch the set 3-2 in a dramatic comeback.

With a final score of 3-1, Zong Xiaochen once again lifted the trophy, his ticket to London securely in hand.

Another huge congratulations to Zong Xiaochen! The world of darts now looks ahead to Alexandra Palace, eagerly anticipating what he will bring to the global stage.