Luke Littler is set to defend his PDC World Darts Championship title against Darius Labanauskas at Alexandra Palace next month following the draw held on Monday. The 18-year-old secured the 2025 world championship by defeating Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally in January and has since claimed victories in various prestigious competitions. Recently rising to the top spot in the world rankings, Littler is in exceptional form leading up to his title defense.
In the revamped 128-player tournament, Littler will face Lithuanian top player Labanauskas in the opening round. Other notable matchups include Luke Humphries against Ted Evetts, Michael van Gerwen against Mitsohiko Tatsunami, and Beau Greaves taking on Daryl Gurney.
The complete list of first-round matchups for the 2026 PDC World Championship includes a range of exciting clashes, showcasing top talents in the darts world. From Mario Vandenbogaerde versus David Davies to Callan Rydz against Patrik Kovacs, fans will be treated to a thrilling start to the competition.