'Bankrupt' Richie Burnett receives welcome boost with World Seniors spot

The twentieth and final wildcard for the 2026 World Seniors Darts Championship has gone to Richie Burnett. 'The Prince of Wales' will compete with generational rivals for the senior world title in February 2026 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet.

The 58-year-old Burnett had his heyday in the 1990s, with winning the 1995 BDO World Championship as the absolute highlight. A year earlier, he had also won the World Masters and Dutch Open. In 1999, Burnett made the move to the PDC, where he reached the final at the World Matchplay in 2001.

Confirmed participants for the senior World Championship include defending champion Ross Montgomery, Scotsmen John Henderson and Robert Thornton, as well as crowd favorites Steve Beaton and Simon Whitlock. Vincent van der Voort is also in the mix, as is Belgian Ronny Huybrechts. In addition, three-time world champion John Part and Leonard Gates make their appearance.

The invitation will have been gratefully received by Burnett, as last weekend when he competed in the World Seniors Darts Champion of Champions tournament, he revealed that he is completely broke financially. His participation in the senior World Championship will at least earn him a small penny, with a chance to win the top prize of £30,000.