Team GB legend Sir Chris Hoy will be at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship final
Sir Chris Hoy attended the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship final(Image: James Fearn, Getty Images)
Sir Chris Hoy is set to return to the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace. The cycling legend will be back at the tournament, 12 months after he handed the trophy to reigning world champion Luke Littler.
It marked Hoy’s first live darts event but the experience had a lasting impact on the Olympic icon. Speaking before this year’s world darts championship, the Team GB star, who secured six Olympic golds and 11 world titles throughout his cycling career, offered glowing praise of Littler’s abilities.
Beyond sport, Hoy revealed his terminal cancer diagnosis in October 2024. Despite being told he has two to four years to live, the 49-year-old has committed to raising awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Here’s a look at Hoy’s involvement with darts, plus the latest on his health.
Luke Littler verdict
Hoy understands what is required to reach the pinnacle of any sport. Yet even he was astounded by how the then-17-year-old Littler handled his world title triumph with such composure.
“What was remarkable was how Luke Littler, even if he’d been in his late 30s, early 40s, a veteran of his sport, he would still be impressive, but he was 17,” Hoy told Sky Sports. “It’s incredible how calm he was for a guy of his age and truly remarkable.
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“His age is the first thing that catches your attention and the fact that a sport that requires such skill normally takes decades to not just master, but to deal with the pressure. The fact that it is so much of a mind game.
“It’s his coolness under pressure, but relative to his age. That was the unique thing that stood out and the way he just seemed so unaffected by it. He seemed so normal and I think when we usually see our sporting heroes, they seem different to us, they’re a different breed. Yet he just seemed to walk up and be unaffected by this cavalcade, chaos around him.
“There was no pressure on his shoulders. He seemed to lap it up and it wasn’t just a one-off. He’s performed at the highest level since then and I just think he is a true marvel.”
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Reason for darts final appearance
Hoy is poised to return to the world darts final in his capacity as an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK. Tournament sponsor Paddy Power has teamed up with the charity and is pledging £1,000 for every 180 scored, plus £180,000 for every nine-dart finish, as part of its Even Bigger 180 campaign.
Earlier this week, Hoy posted on social media: “Fantastic to see @paddypowerofficial’s ‘The Even Bigger 180’ campaign raising over £1m so far for @prostatecanceruk at the World Darts Championships with 4 days still to go.
“The funds raised will make a tangible difference in the fight against prostate cancer and help countless men and their families across the UK. I’m delighted to be supporting the campaign again this year and I’m looking forward to being at the Ally Pally for the final this Saturday.”
Meanwhile, one supporter has been selected to compete for £180,000 on the Ally Pally stage. Required to achieve 180 in nine darts, they were randomly picked after donating to Prostate Cancer UK through the Darts of Destiny campaign, which has generated more than £120,000 at the time of writing.
Hoy has helped raise awareness since his cancer diagnosis(Image: Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Health update
In February 2024, Hoy shared that he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer. He announced his terminal diagnosis in October of that year, though he recently mentioned that he is responding positively to treatment.
Additionally, Hoy is recuperating from a broken leg following a severe mountain bike accident. When asked about his well-being on The Sports Agents podcast, Hoy said: “I’m doing all right. It’s been a funny couple of years, but it changes your perspective on everything, and you learn to kind of live more in the moment. In that respect, I’m doing really well. I’ve had a bit of a tumble on the mountain bike, which wasn’t ideal, but apart from that…”
He continued: “I think anybody who has gone through a serious health diagnosis will say the same, that you go through that initial period of getting to the stage of acceptance and then you just get on with life. Particularly if you’ve got young kids or responsibilities, you just have to get on with it.
“It’s not easy but you find your way through and once you do, you recognise that you’re still in the same position. None of us know what’s going to happen in the future.”
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