Defending world champion Luke Littler will kick off his title defense against Lithuanian qualifier Darius Labanauskas in the opening round of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
The 18-year-old, who captured the Sid Waddell Trophy earlier this year, faces a challenging start in the newly expanded 128-player tournament.
Star-Studded Lineup Ready for Action
This year’s championship brings together a stacked field, including world No 2 Luke Humphries and 2024 finalist Michael van Gerwen.
Unlike previous editions, all players will begin from the first round under the new format.
Littler, Humphries, and van Gerwen headline the list, promising plenty of high-stakes drama right from the start.
Key First-Round Clashes to Watch
Several intriguing match-ups have emerged. Humphries is set to face Ted Evetts, while three-time champion van Gerwen will meet Japanese qualifier Mitsuhiko Tatsunami.
Ninth seed Gerwyn Price squares off against Adam Gawlas, and fourth seed Stephen Bunting goes up against Sebastian Bialecki. Tatsunami, 52, brings his experience as PDC Asian Tour No 13 and PDC Japan Tour No 3 into play.
Exciting Women’s Matches in the Opening Round
The women’s draw also offers compelling contests.
Former world champion Michael Smith will take on Lisa Ashton, while Dave Chisnall faces Fallon Sherrock in one of the most talked-about fixtures of the opening round.
Littler himself had hoped to avoid a first-round clash with women’s world No 1 Beau Greaves, fearing fans might rally behind her, but instead, Greaves has been drawn against 22nd seed Daryl Gurney.
Littler Returns as Youngest World Champion
Littler arrives at Alexandra Palace not just as the reigning champion, but also as the youngest world champion in darts history.
His 2025 season was remarkable, claiming six major titles and topping the PDC rankings after defeating Nathan Aspinall in the Players Championship Finals.
All eyes will be on the Warrington teenager to see if he can maintain his dominant form.
Tournament Schedule Spanning the Holiday Season
The 2026 World Darts Championship kicks off on Thursday, December 11, with four first-round matches set for the evening session.
Darts fans will enjoy 13 consecutive days of action, featuring both afternoon and evening sessions until December 23.
Play resumes on December 27 to complete the third and fourth rounds by December 30.
The quarter-finals will span New Year’s Day, semi-finals follow on January 2, and the championship concludes with the final on Friday, January 3.
Anticipation Builds for Alexandra Palace Showdowns
With an expanded field and some of the sport’s biggest names in action from the very first round, fans are gearing up for a thrilling championship.
Littler’s opening match against Labanauskas is just the tip of what promises to be a high-octane tournament packed with tension, skill, and plenty of surprises.f
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