Luke Littler’s impressive performance against Darius Labanauskas at the 2025-26 PDC World Championship has garnered praise. Littler, at the age of 18, triumphed over Labanauskas with a 3-0 victory on the lively opening night at Alexandra Palace.
Despite being the reigning champion, Littler faced a tough challenge. Labanauskas, ranked 95th globally, started strong by securing a 130 checkout on the bull in the first leg of the match.
Labanauskas pushed both of the first two sets to deciding legs, but Littler eventually prevailed, setting up a second-round match against either David Davies from Wales or Mario Vandenbogaerde from Belgium.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Littler expressed his satisfaction with the win, acknowledging the initial nerves but crediting the crucial first set win for settling him. He emphasized the significance of advancing past the challenging first round in the tournament.
Commenting on Littler’s performance, Sky pundit Mark Webster commended his resilience and ability to overcome Labanauskas’s test. Despite facing difficulties, Littler managed to deliver a solid performance, setting the stage for his title defense in the upcoming final next month.
The opening night also saw 2023 champion Michael Smith defeat Women’s World Matchplay winner Lisa Ashton 3-0. Smith admitted to BBC Radio 5 Live that the first set was nerve-wracking but expressed relief at securing the win.
The first round of the tournament will continue for another week, concluding on the following Friday, leading up to the final on Saturday, January 3.
The PDC World Darts Championship commenced on December 11, with fans able to watch every match live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.