The 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship has commenced at London’s Alexandra Palace, with defending champion Luke Littler successfully launching his title defense.
Hailing from Warrington, Littler, who became the youngest-ever winner by defeating Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final at just 17, secured a 3-0 victory over Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas on the opening night, advancing to the second round.
Entering his third appearance at Ally Pally, Littler arrives on a high note after recent triumphs at the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals, solidifying his top seed status and World Number One ranking.
Among the participants at Alexandra Palace are former world champions like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price, as well as contenders such as Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, part of the expanded 128-player field.
The tournament includes the top 40 from the PDC’s Werner Rankings Ladder, 40 qualifiers from the one-year ProTour Ranking, and 48 International Qualifiers from PDC Secondary and Affiliate Tours and Qualifying Events.
An anticipated storyline of the championship is the potential rematch between rivals Luke Humphries, the 2024 champion, and Littler, with Humphries aiming for redemption after his defeat in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. A victory for Humphries could propel him to the world number one position, with the champion set to receive a £1 million prize.
All matches of the tournament will be broadcast live exclusively on a single broadcaster. Viewers can watch the World Darts Championship in the UK for detailed coverage of the afternoon sessions starting at 12.30pm and evening sessions at 7pm until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day.
The semi-finals are scheduled for 7.30pm on 2 January, followed by the final at 8pm on 3 January. Sky Sports is airing every match of the PDC World Darts Championship, with dedicated coverage on Sky Sports Darts and significant matches also featured on Sky Sports Main Event, accessible through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
Apart from comprehensive World Darts Championship coverage, the bundle includes access to matches from the Premier League, EFL, Carabao Cup, Formula 1, over 100 regular channels like Sky Atlantic, and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
The PDC World Darts Championship started on December 11, and fans can watch every match live exclusively with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle. Virgin Media customers can also enjoy the darts with the provider’s Sport bundle, available for free for three months through a last-minute Black Friday deal.
Both Sky and Virgin’s TV contracts have an annual price increase, with Virgin’s £56.99 package set to rise to £60.99 from April 2026 and £64.99 from April 2027.