Luke Littler on Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship

The 18-year-old teenage dart prodigy from Warrington made history at the iconic Wood Green venue last year after stunning Nederland’s triple winner Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 to become the youngest ever PDC World Champion.

The current world one, who last month collected the ITV4-televised Ladbrokes Players Championship after defeating Stockport’s world 15 ranked Nathan Aspinall in Butlin’s Minehead, is bidding to emulate Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson by becoming only the fourth player to retain the world crown, with either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies awaiting the winner in round two.

But Littler must get past 49-year-old Lithuania-based Labanauskas, who reached the last eight at Ally Pally back in 2020. ‘The Nuke’ will have no nerves when he returns to the big Ally Pally stage on opening night December 11.

“I’m very happy with it,” Littler told Sky Sports News during the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship Media Day. “He’s not the quickest player but it’s all about getting past that first round. It won’t be easy but I’ll be trying to get past Darius first time round.

“If there are nerves then I’ll know how to cope with them. Last year I didn’t have a clue on how to cope with them but this year I know what to expect.

“I’ve won the last three majors and now it’s the big one. It’s around the corner and I’m just looking forward to it. Gary Anderson was the last player to go back-to-back, that was 10 years ago, so I’m looking forward to it to try to go back-to-back. 

“Obviously all the seeds are in the first round now. So if you want to go on and lift the trophy then you’ve got to play an extra game but I’m excited to get back on that stage.”

Also in the 128-player first round draw of this lucrative £5million tournament, world number two and 2025 champion Luke Humphries meets former World Youth Champion Ted Evetts.

A full list of the first round draws along with ticket details can be found by going to: pdc.tv