The 2025/26 edition of the PDC World Darts Championship has commenced at Alexandra Palace in London, where defending champion Luke Littler has started his title defense successfully.
Hailing from Warrington, Littler, who became the youngest-ever winner by defeating Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final at the age of 17, secured a 3-0 victory over Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas in the opening round of the tournament.
Littler, competing in his third appearance at Ally Pally, is in stellar form following recent triumphs at the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals, solidifying his position as the top seed and World Number One.
Accompanying Littler at Alexandra Palace are former world champions such as Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price. Notable participants this year also include Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, among others, making up the expanded 128-player field.
The tournament features the top 40 players 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 significant storyline to watch out for in the championship is the potential showdown between Luke Humphries, the 2024 champion, and Littler. Humphries aims for redemption after a 16-11 loss to Littler in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. A victory for Humphries could propel him back to the world number one ranking, with the champion receiving a substantial £1 million prize.
All matches of the PDC World Darts Championship will be broadcast live exclusively on a single broadcaster. Viewers can tune in to watch the championship unfold, with afternoon sessions starting at 12.30pm and evening sessions at 7pm until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. The semi-finals will be held at 7.30pm on 2 January, followed by the final at 8pm on 3 January.
Sky Sports is the exclusive broadcaster for the championship, with dedicated coverage on Sky Sports Darts and key matches also shown on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can access all the action by subscribing to Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
In addition to the comprehensive World Darts Championship coverage, the Sky package offers access to various sports events, including matches from the Premier League, EFL, Carabao Cup, and Formula 1, along with entertainment channels like Sky Atlantic. Subscribers also receive complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Virgin Media customers can also enjoy the darts through the provider’s Sport bundle, currently offered for free for three months under a last-minute Black Friday deal. However, both Sky and Virgin’s TV contracts come with annual price increases. Virgin customers on the £56.99 package will see their bills rise to £60.99 from April 2026 and £64.99 from April 2027.
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