The 2025/26 edition of the PDC World Darts Championship has commenced at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London, with defending champion Luke Littler successfully initiating his title defense campaign.
Hailing from Warrington, the young champion, who made history by becoming the youngest-ever winner last year at the age of 17 by defeating the three-time champion Michael van Gerwen, dominated the opening night of the tournament with a convincing 3-0 victory over Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas.
Littler, participating in his third appearance at Ally Pally, enters the competition in stellar form, having recently secured victories at prestigious events like the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals, solidifying his status as the top seed and the World Number One.
Among the field of 128 players at Alexandra Palace are notable former world champions such as Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price, alongside other strong contenders like Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton.
The player lineup 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.
A highly anticipated storyline of the championship revolves around the potential clash between rivals Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. Humphries, the 2024 champion, seeks redemption after a defeat to Littler in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. A triumph for Humphries in this tournament could propel him to the world number one ranking, with the champion set to receive a substantial £1 million prize.
All matches of the PDC World Darts Championship are broadcast exclusively on a single broadcaster. Viewers can catch the action live, 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.
Sky Sports is the exclusive broadcaster for the championship, showcasing matches on the dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel and Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can access the coverage with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which not only includes comprehensive darts coverage but also offers access to a wide range of sports and entertainment content.
Virgin Media customers can also enjoy the championship through the provider’s Sport bundle, which is currently available for free for three months due to a special promotion. However, both Sky and Virgin’s TV packages come with annual price hikes, with Virgin already announcing increases for its package in the coming years.
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