PDC World Darts Championship Starts with Littler Defense

The Professional Darts Corporation World Darts Championship begins Thursday evening at London's Alexandra Palace, where defending champion Luke Littler opens his title defense against Lithuania's Darius Labanauskas in a record 128-player field. The tournament, spanning from December 11, 2025, to January 3, 2026, marks the 33rd edition since the PDC split from the British Darts Organisation and features an expanded lineup that includes a historic five female competitors.

Littler, the 18-year-old world number one from Warrington, enters as the clear favorite after a dominant 2025 season that saw him claim six major titles, including victories at the UK Open, World Matchplay, and Players Championship Finals. He captured the crown last January by defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final, ending the Dutchman's bid for a fourth world title. Littler's opening match kicks off the evening session at 7 p.m., with the teenager expected to advance from a favorable draw that avoids top seeds until the later stages.

The event boasts a record £5 million prize fund, doubled from the previous year thanks to a new five-year television deal with Sky Sports reportedly worth £125 million. The...