Day one of the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship saw defending Luke Littler start the defence of his title with a 3-0 win over Darius Labanauskas, while Michael Smith defeated Lisa Ashton by the same scoreline.

Today, Alexandra Palace opens its doors for the first double session of the tournament, with eight games taking place on Friday afternoon and evening.

A former World Champion headlines this afternoon’s action, while the only winner of a TV ranking title in 2025 not named Luke takes his bow in the night session.

Here’s what to look forward to ahead of day two at the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Cross and van Veen begin World Darts Championship campaigns

The two standout names on day two’s action start in the afternoon session, with 2018 World Champion Rob Cross headlining the schedule.

Voltage won this title after a stunning debut season turning professional, with his run including beating Michael van Gerwen in the semis, in what was arguably the greatest game in Alexandra Palace history, before beating Phil Taylor in his final ever professional match.

Since then though, he has only gone past the quarter finals once, when he lost 6-2 to the debuting Littler in the semis two years ago.

This year, Voltage faces Cor Dekker, who won his Tour Card at Q-School this year, becoming the first Norwegian to do so. Dekker has had a decent first year on tour, including reaching a semi final on the Euro Tour, and finishing 39th on the Pro Tour Order of Merit to qualify for his first trip to the Palace.

By contrast, this has been a terrible 12 months for Cross, who has not made a televised ranking quarter final in 2025, with his highlight being a win in the opening Pro Tour event.

This is the first time they will meet each other in the PDC, so can Dekker cause a huge upset? Or will Cross get back to winning ways at the most crucial time?

In the evening session, young Dutch superstar Gian van Veen will look to follow on from his European Championship victory over Luke Humphries, by taking a step closer to becoming the first player ever to hold the PDC World Youth Championship and World Darts Championship at the same time.

Van Veen takes on Spain’s Cristo Reyes, who won the Mediterranean Qualifier to return to London for the first time in six years.

The Giant retained his World Youth Championship with victory over Beau Greaves in Minehead last month, and alongside his win at the European Championship in October, has won his first Pro Tour, and reached another two TV quarter finals, reaching world number eight in the process. Title sponsors Paddy Power have him as fourth favourite to lift the title.

However, van Veen has never progressed beyond round two at the World Darts Championship, which should give some hope for Reyes, who himself has never progressed beyond the last 16. This is the first time that the two will meet in any game as well.

The King returns to the Palace, expect Evans to feel festive

After coming fourth on the Challenge Tour in 2025, Mervyn King will make his return to the Paddy Power World Darts Championship for the first time in three years. A former quarter finalist, and the runner up of seven PDC ranking events, the former BDO Masters Champion takes on Diamond Ian White, who qualified for his 14th appearance in 16 years via the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

White holds the edge in their games against each other with a 10-7 lead, including one TV game at the Championship of Darts back in 2013. The King though has won the last two matches between the pair, so can he continue that streak as they meet at the Worlds for the first time?

Ricky Evans is also in action tonight, as he faces Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung in one of the ties of the round. Evans qualified as the 40th and final player on the PDC Order of Merit, while Leung won his spot via the PDC Asian Tour.

Rapid Ricky made the quarter finals at the Grand Slam of Darts last month, while The Challenger has won two Asia Tours in 2025 and reached the quarter finals of the World Cup with Yok Lin Lee. This is the first time the two will meet in a match.

Zonneveld and Searle start in afternoon, Smith and Heta play in evening

Another Dutchman begins play on day two, as Neils Zonneveld takes on New Zealand’s Haupai Puha. Zonneveld qualified via the Pro Tour Order of Merit, while Puha claimed one of the available spaces at the final Tour Card Holder Qualifier.

Zonneveld has only ever won one of his previous four games at the World Darts Championship, while Puha has not won at Ally Pally on either of his two previous appearances. Triple Z also leads 3-1 in previous matches between the pair, including two of their three games this year.

Ryan Searle is also in action in the afternoon session, as he takes on another Dutchman in Chris Landman. Searle qualified as the 20th seed via the PDC Order of Merit, while Landman reached his third PDC World Darts Championship via the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Heavy Metal is a previous quarter finalist at Ally Pally, while Landman has not progressed beyond round two. Searle also has a 3-1 lead in previous meetings, including the only one this year at Players Championship 30.

The other two games in the evening feature Ross Smith taking on Andreas Harryson. Smith, a former European Champion, qualified as the 12th seed via the PDC Order of Merit, while Harryson won his spot via the Nordic and Baltic Tour.

Smudger has never been past the last 32 in this event, while this is Dirty Harry’s debut at Ally Pally. This is also the first time the two have squared off.

The final match of the night sees Damon Heta of Australia take on Ireland’s Steve Lennon. Heta is the 16th seed via the PDC Order of Merit, while Lennon guaranteed his spot via the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

The Heat’s best World Darts Championship performance was a fourth round exit two years ago, while Scuba Steve has never got past the second round here. Heta leads their overall head to head 3-2, including a victory in their only TV meeting, back in the Players Championship Finals in 2021.

Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day Two Schedule of Play

Friday 12 December

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)

Round One x4

Niels Zonneveld v Haupai Puha

Ian White v Mervyn King

Ryan Searle v Chris Landman

Rob Cross v Cor Dekker

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Round One x4

Ross Smith v Andreas Harrysson

Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung

Gian van Veen v Cristo Reyes

Damon Heta v Steve Lennon