Luke Littler returns to the PDC World Darts Championship 2026 at Alexandra Palace as the reigning world champion and world number one, aiming to defend the title he won in spectacular fashion last year. The 18‑year‑old English prodigy has already made history multiple times, and all eyes are on him once again as the tournament begins.
Littler, nicknamed “The Nuke,” will begin his title defence against Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas on the opening night of the event, which features an expanded field of 128 players competing for a record prize fund and the prestigious Sid Waddell Trophy.
His draw sees potential clashes with established stars, and pundits have highlighted that the depth of the field could provide early tests before the big names meet in later rounds.
The teenager’s emergence has been rapid. In 2025 he became the youngest ever world champion at just 17, dominating the final to beat Michael van Gerwen 7‑3 and claim the Sid Waddell trophy, and also collected multiple major titles across the season before reaching world number one status. His success has been compared to the transformative impact of figures like Tiger Woods in golf, as his performances have helped elevate the profile of darts and draw record audiences.
Littler’s position at the top is not undisputed; rivals such as Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price are frequently mentioned as the main challengers to his dominance, with predictions often pointing to potential high‑stakes meetings in the later stages of the tournament.
Practice partners and commentators alike have described Littler as a “generational talent,” though some opponents suggest that external factors such as life responsibilities could eventually influence his career trajectory.
Beyond the men’s title race, the expanded tournament format also highlights the increasing diversity of the sport, with women competitors such as Beau Greaves set to participate alongside longtime stars — reflecting darts’ growing global reach.
As the championship progresses from December into January, attention will remain on Littler’s attempt to become the first player since 2016 to win back‑to‑back World Darts Championship titles.
