David Davies, the 40-year-old NHS area manager from Denbigh, is set for a huge challenge at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship. After an impressive 3–0 debut victory over Mario Vandenbogaerde, Davies will meet world number one Luke Littler in the second round on Sunday, 21 December at Alexandra Palace.
A Dream Debut at Alexandra Palace
In his first-ever appearance at the World Championship, Davies dropped just four legs while defeating the Dutch player, known as ‘Super Mario’. The straight-sets win earned him £25,000, a welcome boost as he juggles his NHS career with his darts ambitions.
“I’ve got minimal annual leave left, but I’m sure if I take unpaid leave, the £25,000 will come in handy!” Davies joked.
The former fan turned competitor now faces the formidable Luke Littler, who has dominated the sport over the past 12 months with titles at the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, and Grand Slam, starting with his World Championship victory.
“Luke’s a different breed, isn’t he? He’s blown the sport to a different dimension,” Davies said.
“I’m going to be the underdog in every single game I play, but I deserve to be here.”
Davies averaged 86.50 in his opening-round match, hitting three 180s and demonstrating he belongs on the big stage despite not holding a PDC tour card.
Considering a Full-Time Darts Career
Davies qualified for the World Championship through the UK & Ireland qualifiers in early November. His first-round success, along with the prize money, has prompted him to think about pursuing darts professionally.
“I haven’t got any massive backing. I’ve got a full-time job in the NHS… do I take the plunge and go full-time in darts? I don’t know yet,” he admitted.
“My main priority right now is the World Championship, and then I’ll make that decision in January.”
Second-Round Clash Against Littler
Davies’ second-round showdown with Luke Littler is one of the most anticipated early-round matches of the 2026 tournament. Littler, 18, is the reigning world champion and has won multiple major titles in the past year, making him the favorite going into the contest.
Davies, however, is undeterred by the challenge:
“There’s no easy game here, we’re all here because we deserve to be. I’ll try my best and see what happens.”
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