Michael van Gerwen was the defending champion, having won his first World Championship title in 2014, but he lost 6–3 to Gary Anderson in the semi-finals.

Anderson won the title by beating 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor 7–6 in the final.

Adrian Lewis threw the event's only nine-dart finish in his third round match with Raymond van Barneveld.

John Michael and Boris Koltsov became the first players from Greece and Russia respectively to play in the first round of a PDC World Championship.

[22] The event also included a single-leg exhibition between two England cricket teammates – fast bowler James Anderson and opening batsman and Test captain Alastair Cook.