Luke Littler is gearing up to defend his PDC World Darts Championship title for the first time against Darius Labanauskas at Alexandra Palace next month. The draw for the tournament was conducted on Monday.
Having secured the 2025 world championship by defeating Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally in January, the 18-year-old Littler has since gone on to claim victories at the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and Players Championship, among other prestigious events.
Recently rising to the world No.1 spot, surpassing Luke Humphries, Littler is currently in outstanding form as he prepares to defend his championship title in the upcoming tournament.
In the initial round of the 128-player competition, Littler, also known as ‘The Nuke,’ will face off against Lithuanian top player Labanauskas, hailing from Warrington.
Other notable matchups in the first round include Humphries taking on Ted Evetts, van Gerwen squaring off against Mitsohiko Tatsunami, and Beau Greaves set to compete against Daryl Gurney.
The complete list of first-round fixtures for the 2026 PDC World Championship includes a diverse array of matchups showcasing top talent from the world of darts.