The PDC World Darts Championship for the 2025/26 season has commenced at Alexandra Palace in London, with current titleholder Luke Littler starting his defense successfully.
Hailing from Warrington, Littler, who became the youngest-ever champion by defeating Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final at just 17, secured a 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas on the opening night to advance to the second round.
Entering his third appearance at Ally Pally, Littler arrives at the competition in top form after recent wins at prestigious events like the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals, solidifying his position as the top seed and World Number One.
Among the participants at Alexandra Palace are former world champions such as Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price, alongside notable contenders like Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, part of the expanded 128-player lineup.
The tournament features a diverse field, including the top 40 from the PDC’s Werner Rankings Ladder, 40 qualifiers from the ProTour Ranking, and 48 International Qualifiers from PDC Secondary and Affiliate Tours and Qualifying Events.
A significant storyline to follow is the potential showdown between Luke Humphries, the 2024 champion, and Littler, seeking redemption after losing to him in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. A victory for Humphries in this championship could propel him back to the top ranking, with the winner set to claim a substantial £1 million prize.
All matches of the PDC World Darts Championship will be broadcast live exclusively on a single broadcaster. Viewers can follow the action throughout the tournament, with afternoon sessions starting at 12.30 pm and evening sessions at 7 pm until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. The semi-finals will take place on January 2 at 7.30 pm, followed by the final on January 3 at 8 pm.
The tournament can be viewed live on Sky Sports, which has reintroduced its dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel for the occasion. The Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle from Sky offer access to a wide range of sporting events, including the Premier League, EFL, Carabao Cup, and Formula 1, along with over 100 regular channels like Sky Atlantic and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Virgin Media customers can also watch the darts through the £56.99 Sport bundle, which includes over 200 TV channels, a Netflix subscription, and high-speed fibre broadband. However, both Sky and Virgin TV packages may experience annual price increases, with Virgin already announcing future price adjustments for its offerings.
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