The latest edition of the PDC World Darts Championship for the 2025/26 season has commenced at the Alexandra Palace in London. Luke Littler, the defending champion from Warrington, started his title defense in style by securing a 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas of Lithuania in the first round. Littler, who became the youngest-ever winner last year at 17 by defeating Michael van Gerwen, has been in excellent form recently, winning various championships and solidifying his status as the top seed and World Number One.
Among the participants at Alexandra Palace are former world champions like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price. Noteworthy contenders this year also include Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, all part of the enlarged 128-player field. The tournament features a mix of top-ranked players from the PDC’s Werner Rankings Ladder, qualifiers from the ProTour Ranking, and International Qualifiers from PDC Secondary and Affiliate Tours and Qualifying Events.
A highly anticipated storyline of the championship is the potential rematch between Luke Humphries, the 2024 champion, and Luke Littler, seeking redemption after his defeat in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. A win for Humphries could propel him to the world number one position, with the champion set to receive a substantial £1 million prize.
Every match of the PDC World Darts Championship will be broadcast live exclusively on Sky Sports, including the semi-finals on January 2 and the final on January 3. Sky Sports has dedicated a channel specifically for darts coverage and will also feature significant matches on Sky Sports Main Event. The coverage is part of the Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering access to a wide range of sports events and entertainment channels, including Netflix and Discovery+.
Additionally, Virgin Media customers can avail themselves of the darts coverage through the Sport bundle, which includes access to over 200 TV channels and a Netflix subscription. Both Sky and Virgin Media have annual price increases in their TV packages, with Virgin Media’s £56.99 package set to rise to £60.99 in April 2026 and £64.99 in April 2027.
Fans can follow the action of the PDC World Darts Championship, with matches scheduled throughout the tournament until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. The tournament is set to offer thrilling darts action and exciting competitions as players vie for the prestigious championship title.
