The PDC World Darts Championship for the 2025/26 season has commenced at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London, with defending champion Luke Littler successfully launching his title defense. Hailing from Warrington, Littler, who made history as the youngest-ever winner by defeating Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final at the age of 17, secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas from Lithuania in the opening round.
Having recently dominated various darting events such as the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals, Littler, now the World Number One and top seed, enters his third appearance at Ally Pally with a string of triumphs under his belt.
Among the distinguished participants joining Littler at Alexandra Palace are former world champions like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price. The expanded 128-player field includes notable contenders such as Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, selected from the top 40 in the PDC’s Werner Rankings Ladder, 40 qualifiers from the ProTour Ranking, and 48 International Qualifiers from PDC Secondary and Affiliate Tours and Qualifying Events.
A highly anticipated storyline of this championship revolves around the potential for a thrilling rematch between rivals Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. Humphries, the 2024 champion, aims to redeem himself after a 16-11 loss to Littler in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. A win for Humphries in this tournament could propel him back to the top of the world rankings, with the champion set to earn a remarkable £1 million prize.
All matches of the PDC World Darts Championship are exclusively broadcasted live on a single broadcaster. Viewers can follow the action from this prestigious event through various sessions, starting at 12.30pm for afternoon sessions and 7pm for evening sessions until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. The semi-finals are scheduled for 7.30pm on January 2, with the final showdown slated to begin at 8pm on January 3.
Sky Sports, which has reintroduced its dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel, is the exclusive broadcaster for the championship, showcasing all the significant matches on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can access the live coverage with the Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for £35, which also includes a wide array of sports content like Premier League, EFL, Carabao Cup, Formula 1, and over 100 regular channels such as Sky Atlantic, along with complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Moreover, Virgin Media customers can opt for the competing package, the £56.99 Sport bundle, which currently offers a three-month free subscription due to a special Black Friday deal. However, it is important to note that both Sky and Virgin’s TV contracts come with annual price increases, with Virgin customers on the £56.99 package expected to see incremental bill rises in the coming years.
Fans can enjoy the excitement and drama of the PDC World Darts Championship by tuning in to the live broadcasts provided through Sky Sports and Virgin Media, ensuring a thrilling experience for all darts enthusiasts.