Luke Littler vs Darius Labanauskas Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 PDC World Darts Championship | First Round
World number one and defending champion Luke Littler takes to the Ally Pally stage with one goal in mind, retaining the Sid Waddell Trophy.
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How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – Peacock
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Peacock Premium
Luke Littler vs Darius Labanauskas prediction
All eyes heading into the World Darts Championship will be on 18-year-old Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, who won this tournament for the first time in his young career last year. The likelihood is that it’ll be the first of many world titles for the darting prodigy who has established himself as a sporting superstar with the biggest individual fanbase darts has seen in a generation.
Since his maidan Ally Pally triumph, Littler has gone on to win major events such as the UK Open, World Matchday, World Grand Prix and the Grand Slam of Darts (for a second time), the latter taking him to number one in the world rankings for the first time ever. Never before has an 18-year-old been the world number one, further cementing Littler’s status as the best in the game.
He’ll be expected to cruise past former Ally Pally quarter-finalist Darius Labanauskas. However, it’s worth noting that with the short best of five sets format early on, the best chance of toppling Littler if you’re of a significantly lower rank like Labanauskas, is going to be in the early rounds. The Nuke averaged just 92.65 in the second-round last year against Andrew Gilding winning 3-1 in sets, but dropping a whopping eight legs. A similar showing in the first round here, could well see him on the end of a shock.
But this is a confident Littler, a world champion, the best on the planet. He knows how to win regularly now at Ally Pally and the crowd love him to bits. All the momentum is with him and his relentless scoring ability and clutch doubling should see him overcome Labanauskas comfortably. Back Littler to win with over 4.5 180s and a checkout of 100 or more.
Luke Littler vs Darius Labanauskas tip: Luke Littler to win, hit over 4.5 180s and hit 1+ 100+ checkout
