Defending Champion Luke Littler Discovers First Hurdle at Ally Pally
The draw for the highly anticipated 2026 PDC World Darts Championship has been confirmed, setting the stage for Luke Littler to begin the defence of his title. The world number one, affectionately known as 'The Nuke', learned he will open his campaign against Lithuania's Darius Labanauskas at Alexandra Palace next month.
This will be only Littler's third appearance at the iconic venue, having previously taken the tournament by storm. At just 16 years old, he reached the final in 2023, only to be beaten by Luke Humphries. He went one step further in January 2025, lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy by defeating Michael van Gerwen.
Littler returns to north London as the clear favourite to reclaim the trophy. His first opponent, the 49-year-old Labanauskas, is a seasoned professional and a former quarter-finalist at Ally Pally, having reached the last eight in 2020.
Littler's Confidence and Key Rivalries Set for Alexandra Palace
Reacting to the draw, Littler expressed his satisfaction to Sky Sports. 'Very happy with it,' he said. 'Not the quickest player but it’s all about getting past that first round. It won’t be easier but I’ve just got to get past Darius.' He also reflected on his growth, adding, 'If there are nerves then I know how to cope with them. Last year I didn’t have a clue how to cope with them.'
The young champion has set his sights on a significant achievement, noting, 'Gary Anderson was the last person to go back-to-back 10 years ago, that’s what I want to do, go back-to-back.'
Meanwhile, his chief rival, Luke Humphries—the man Littler recently displaced as world number one—will begin his quest for a second world title against Ted Evetts. Other major contenders saw favourable draws, with three-time champion Michael van Gerwen taking on Japan's Mitsuhiko Tatsunami and former winner Gerwyn Price facing Adam Gawlas.
Notable First-Round Ties and Full Tournament Draw
A standout fixture in the opening round sees Daryl Gurney pitted against the world's best female player, Beau Greaves, in a highly anticipated match-up.
The full draw for the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship is as follows:
Selected First Round Matches:
- (1) Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas
- (2) Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts
- (3) Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
- (10) Gerwyn Price v Adam Gawlas
- (22) Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves
The stage is set for a thrilling tournament at Alexandra Palace, with Littler aiming to make history by winning back-to-back World Darts Championships.
