The 1986 Embassy World Darts Championship was held between 4–11 January 1986. For the first time, the tournament was held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, having been held at Jollees Cabaret Club in Stoke-on-Trent for the previous seven years. The Lakeside became the third venue in the history of the World Championship.
Eric Bristow completed a hat-trick of World titles to bring his overall tally to five. He would appear in four more finals - but this was to be his last World title.
Only one of the first round matches would go to a deciding set with worlds number 4 Cliff Lazarenko bowing out to fellow countryman Dave Lee. In the second round it was more of the same again with only one match going the distance. Dave Whitcombe would overcome Ceri Morgan in that tie. Whitcombe would get into the final to face Bristow for a second time at this stage. The end result would be the same with Bristow taking his fifth title comfortably 6 sets to 0. The second finals sweep in the tournaments history after Lowe beat Rees 5-0 in 1979.