Luke Littler’s performance in the first round of the 2025-26 PDC World Championship against Darius Labanauskas has earned him praise. Littler, aged 18, emerged victorious with a 3-0 win at the lively Alexandra Palace.
Although the reigning champion faced challenges, Labanauskas, ranked 95th globally, demonstrated skill by securing the first leg with a 130 checkout on the bull. The Lithuanian pushed both initial sets to deciding legs. Littler eventually triumphed over Labanauskas, setting up a second-round encounter against either David Davies from Wales or Mario Vandenbogaerde from Belgium.
Expressing his thoughts to Sky Sports, Littler acknowledged the difficulty of the match but emphasized the importance of winning key moments. Sky pundit Mark Webster appreciated Littler’s candidness, noting the intensity of the first-round matchups.
Following his victory, Littler will enjoy a 10-day break before aiming to defend his title at the upcoming final. The ongoing first round of the championship will continue for another week, culminating in the final on Saturday, January 3.
In other matches on the opening night, 2023 champion Michael Smith defeated Women’s World Matchplay winner Lisa Ashton 3-0. Smith admitted to feeling nervous initially but found his rhythm after securing the first set. The PDC World Darts Championship began on December 11, with fans able to watch all matches live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.