The 2025/26 edition of the PDC World Darts Championship has begun at London’s Alexandra Palace, where current titleholder Luke Littler has initiated his campaign to retain the championship. Littler, hailing from Warrington and known for his historic victory as the youngest-ever winner last year at 17 by defeating Michael van Gerwen, secured his spot in the second round by defeating Darius Labanauskas 3-0 on the tournament’s opening night.
Having recently tasted success at the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam, and Players Championship Finals, Littler, now the top seed and World Number One, is aiming to continue his winning streak at Ally Pally, where he is joined by former world champions like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price. The competition also features notable contenders such as Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Jonny Clayton, who make up the 128-player field comprising top-ranked players from various qualifiers and tours.
A major point of interest in this year’s championship is the potential rematch between Luke Humphries, the 2024 champion, and Littler, who defeated Humphries in the Grand Slam of Darts final last year. Humphries seeks redemption and a chance to reclaim the world number one spot, with the championship winner set to walk away with a £1 million prize.
All matches from the PDC World Darts Championship are broadcast exclusively on one channel, with afternoon sessions starting at 12.30pm and evening sessions at 7pm until the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. The semi-finals will take place on January 2 at 7.30pm, leading up to the final on January 3 at 8pm.
Viewers can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, which has dedicated a channel to the event, along with coverage of other sporting events. Additionally, Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle offers access to a wide range of channels, including Sky Atlantic, and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
For Virgin Media customers, the £56.99 Sport bundle, currently free for three months due to a Black Friday promotion, provides access to the tournament and a variety of TV channels, including Netflix. However, both Sky and Virgin customers should be aware of potential annual price increases in their contracts.
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