The PDC World Darts Championship for the 2025/26 season has commenced at London’s Alexandra Palace, where current titleholder Luke Littler has started his defense successfully. Hailing from Warrington, Littler, who became the youngest-ever champion by defeating Michael van Gerwen in last year’s final at the age of 17, secured a 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas from Lithuania in the first round.
Littler, currently the top seed and World Number One, comes into the tournament after a series of recent triumphs at events like the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals. Notable former world champions like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price are also competing, alongside players such as Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, in the expanded 128-player field.
The competition includes 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 major highlight of the tournament is the potential rematch between Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, with Humphries seeking redemption after losing to Littler in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. The champion of this year’s championship will receive a substantial £1 million prize.
All matches from the PDC World Darts Championship are exclusively broadcasted live by Sky Sports, with afternoon sessions starting at 12:30 pm and evening sessions at 7 pm until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. The semi-finals will be held on 2 January at 7:30 pm, followed by the final on 3 January at 8 pm.
In addition to the World Darts Championship coverage, Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle offer access to thousands of matches from various sports leagues, including the Premier League, EFL, Carabao Cup, and Formula 1. The bundle also includes over 100 regular channels such as Sky Atlantic, along with complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Fans can watch every match of the PDC World Darts Championship live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle. Virgin Media customers can also enjoy the tournament through the Sport bundle, which is free for three months as part of a Black Friday deal. However, both Sky and Virgin’s TV packages come with annual price increases, with Virgin already announcing forthcoming price adjustments for its package.
For those following the event, Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports Main Event will air the most significant matches, ensuring an exciting viewing experience for darts enthusiasts.