Luke Littler’s performance in the first round of the 2025-26 PDC World Championship against Darius Labanauskas has garnered praise. The 18-year-old victoriously secured a 3-0 win on the lively opening night at Alexandra Palace.
Despite his triumph, the reigning champion faced a tough challenge. Labanauskas, positioned 95th globally, impressively started the encounter by holding his throw in the first leg with a 130 checkout on the bull.
Labanauskas pushed Littler to deciding legs in both of the first two sets. Littler, ultimately prevailing over Labanauskas, a former World Championship quarter-finalist, is now poised for a second-round showdown against either David Davies from Wales or Mario Vandenbogaerde from Belgium.
Reflecting on his performance, Littler expressed, “It definitely wasn’t easy, and I’m pleased with the victory.” He acknowledged feeling nervous initially but found his rhythm after winning a leg and a set, particularly emphasizing the importance of the first set against the darts.
Mark Webster, a Sky pundit, commended Littler’s honesty, drawing parallels to his own first-round challenges from the past. Webster remarked on the intensity of the match, highlighting the significance of the opening set’s deciding leg and Littler’s resilience in the face of a formidable opponent.
With a well-deserved break ahead, Littler, the prodigious talent who previously clinched the Sid Waddell Trophy, aims to defend his title in the upcoming final next month.
As the first round progresses, the 2023 champion Michael Smith also secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Women’s World Matchplay winner Lisa Ashton on the opening night. Smith described the initial set as nerve-wracking but credited his ability to settle in and secure the win.
The ongoing first round will continue until next Friday, leading up to the highly anticipated 2025-26 final scheduled for Saturday, January 3.
Fans eager to catch the action can watch every match live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle as the PDC World Darts Championship kicks off on December 11.