Reigning PDC world darts champion Luke Littler will begin the defence of his historic title with a first-round clash against Lithuanian star Darius Labanauskas, as the expanded 128-player 2026 PDC World Darts Championship draw was confirmed.

The tournament — staged once again at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace from 11 December — marks the teenager’s first opportunity to defend the world crown he sensationally won at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest world darts champion in history.

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Littler vs Labanauskas: A Fascinating First-Round Matchup

Now 18 and ranked world number one, Littler enters the competition as the top seed. His opponent, Labanauskas, reached the 2020 quarter-finals and is known for his patient, deliberate style — something Littler acknowledged could impact the early exchanges.

“He’s not the quickest player but it’s all about getting through that first round,” Littler said.
“Gary Anderson was the last to win back-to-back titles — I’m looking forward to trying to do the same.”

Littler and second seed Luke Humphries sit on opposite sides of the draw, setting up the possibility of a repeat of their dramatic 2024 final.

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Humphries Opens Against Ted Evetts

2024 world finalist Luke Humphries — now the tournament’s No.2 seed — begins his campaign against 2021 world youth champion Ted Evetts, an opponent with a reputation for attacking, fast-paced darts.

Both players have had strong 2025 seasons, and with Littler and Humphries seeded to potentially meet in the final once again, this year’s championship carries major narrative weight.

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Women’s Series Stars Face Tough Draw

All five representatives from the Women’s World Series face challenging early matchups:

• Beau Greaves, three-time women’s world champion, draws 22nd seed Daryl Gurney.
• Fallon Sherrock, the only woman ever to win at Alexandra Palace, meets 21st seed Dave Chisnall.
• Lisa Ashton, reigning Women’s Matchplay champion, faces a huge test against 2023 world champion Michael Smith.
• Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the trailblazing first transgender competitor, takes on two-time world champion Peter Wright.
• Gemma Hayter faces 11th seed Josh Rock.

The women’s field is stronger than ever, but the draw has delivered extremely tough opposition.

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Major Contenders and Notable Draws

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen begins his campaign against Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, while former world champions such as Gary Anderson, Rob Cross, and Peter Wright all face dangerous early opposition.

With the field expanding from 96 to 128 players, this year’s championship features more international qualifiers than ever before, driving greater global representation.

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Littler’s Rise Continues After Record-Breaking Year

Since lifting the world title in January by defeating Dutch icon Michael van Gerwen, Littler has added five more televised titles in 2025, most recently claiming the Players Championship in Minehead.

His rapid rise to the top of the sport has seen him break multiple records, earn global media attention, and become one of darts’ most recognisable names.

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Prize Fund Doubles as PDC Targets Biggest Championship Ever

The total prize pool has risen to £5 million, the largest in PDC history.
Key payout levels include:

• Champion: £1,000,000 (double last year’s prize)
• Runner-up: £400,000

The top 32 seeds enter in the first round for the first time, a format shift designed to equalise competition and avoid early mismatches.

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Tournament Schedule (2025–26)

• 11–19 December: First round
• 20–23 December: Second round
• 27 December: Third round begins
• 29–30 December: Fourth round
• 1 January: Quarter-finals
• 2 January: Semi-finals
• 3 January: Grand Final

The extended schedule ensures more broadcasted matches and increased global viewing opportunities.

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Full 2026 PDC World Championship Draw

(All seedings included; rewritten summary format for SEO clarity. If you want the full bracket reproduced in list form, I can also rewrite it cleanly.)

First Quarter: Littler’s Path

• (1) Luke Littler vs Darius Labanauskas
• Potential quarter-final opponents: Chris Dobey, Gerwyn Price

Second Quarter

• (4) Stephen Bunting leads this section
• Major names: Dirk van Duijvenbode, Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall, Fallon Sherrock

Third Quarter

• (2) Luke Humphries begins vs Ted Evetts
• Big threats: Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, Dimitri Van den Bergh

Fourth Quarter

• (3) Michael van Gerwen opens against Tatsunami
• Showstopper tie: (30) Peter Wright vs Noa-Lynn van Leuven
• Other seeds include Gary Anderson, Danny Noppert, Josh Rock