The tournament took place between 27 December 2002 and 5 January 2003 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, England.

The field at the televised stages was expanded for the first time since 1999, adding an extra qualifying round that increased the total number of players from 32 to 40.

John Part defeated the defending champion and number one seed, Phil Taylor, in the final.

As Raymond van Barneveld won the rival BDO World Darts Championship the same year, this was the first time that both versions of the world title were held by a player from outside the British Isles.

[1] The qualifying criteria for the World Championship were as follows: All matches are the best of 7 sets.