The 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship begins today at Alexandra Palace, London.

342 days since Luke Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen to become the youngest winner in the history of the tournament, the doors of The People’s Palace reopen to welcome 3,500 fans back to the sport’s biggest event.

As is tradition, world champion and world number one Littler will be part of the opening night line up, as the Worlds expands to a 128 player format for the first time. There’s also a former World Champion on the bill tonight, as he takes on a four time Ladies World Champion.

Here’s a look ahead to night one at the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Luke Littler holding the Sid Waddell Trophy, awarded to the winner of the World Darts Championship.
Luke Littler will start the defence of his Paddy Power World Darts Championship this evening. Credit: PDC

Littler begins World Darts Championship title defence

Since his defeat of Christian Kist on this stage in round one two years ago, The Nuke has become the biggest name in the sport. Reaching the final on debut, he went one better in 2025, defeating three time champion van Gerwen 7-3 to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy.

After a stellar 2025 which saw him pick up a staggering five ranking titles, including becoming the quickest ever PDC Triple Crown winner at the World Matchplay, Littler will now look to become just the fourth player to successfully defend the biggest prize of all.

The world number one will take on Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas, who qualified via the Pro Tour Order of Merit despite not having a Tour Card. He will return to the Pro Tour full time next year, after finishing second on the PDC Challenge Tour. Lucky D also has some history on this stage, reaching the quarter finals in 2020, and hitting a nine darter against Mike De Decker in 2022.

This will be the first time that the two have met in the PDC, so can Labanauskas shock the darting world tonight? Or will Littler continue his astonishing season and move his Ally Pally record to 13 wins in 14 matches?

A photo of Alexandra Palace lit up in green ahead of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship. Credit: PDC
The doors of Alexandra Palace are ready to welcome darts fans once again. Credit: PDC

Smith takes on Ashton in battle of former Worlds winners

In another big game tonight, 2023 World Darts Championship winner Michael Smith takes on four time Women’s World Champion Lisa Ashton.

Since defeating MvG in that game that featured the greatest leg of all time, The Bully Boy has struggled at the Palace. He’s not reached the quarter finals of this event since, and went out in his first game last year.

In a 2025 plagued by injuries, he’s reached the quarter finals in both the UK Open and the Grand Slam of Darts.

Michael Smith on stage at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
Michael Smith will be looking to regain the Paddy Power World Darts Championship. Credit: PDC

Ashton, who became the first woman to secure a Tour Card through Q-School in 2020, won the opening Women’s Series event in 2025. She qualified for her fifth appearance at Ally Pally though back in July, winning the Women’s World Matchplay for the first time.

The Lancashire Rose has never progressed past round one at the PDC World Darts Championship, so will tonight finally be the night she breaks her duck in a local clash against Smith? They’ve played each other five times in the PDC, with The Bully Boy winning the last four, including two group matches at the Grand Slam.

Lisa Ashton on stage at the 2025 Women
Lisa Ashton will be looking to break her Ally Pally duck this evening. Credit: PDC

Huybrechts begins World Darts Championship, Razma concludes night one

The honour of playing the first game at the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship goes to Kim Huybrechts and Arno Merk.

The Hurricane, a quarter finalist back in 2012 at this event, has not appeared on TV since the UK Open, where he lost in round four. He takes on Germany’s Merk, who won the PDC Europe Super League to book his spot at Alexandra Palace for the first time in his career.

The only time the pair have met in the PDC was back in 2010, at a Players Championship event, with Belgium’s Huybrechts winning. What will happen tonight as the pair open the tournament?

After falling in round one last year, Kim Huybrechts will not want to exit the Worlds at the first hurdle two years in a row. Credit: PDC

The last game of the night sees Latvia’s Madars Razma face Holland’s Jamai van den Herik.

Razma, who is the only player from his nation to ever hold a Tour Card, does not have the best record at the Palace. He’s never progressed beyond the round of 32, but has reached that in both of the last two years.

He plays young Dutchman van den Herik, who secured his first ever trip to the Worlds via the final place on the PDC Development Tour.

This will be the first time the pair will meet in the PDC, so who will round off the night victorious?

Can Madars Razma get off to a winning start at Alexandra Palace? Credit: PDC

2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Night One Schedule of Play

Thursday 11 December (1900 GMT)

Round One x4

Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk

Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton

Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas

Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik