World Darts Championship 2026: Luke Littler’s time to embrace ‘largest problem’ and Alexandra Palace strain

The speak has all been about him. The questions have revolved round him. The percentages are in his favour. Now, it’s time for Luke Littler to ship at Alexandra Palace as soon as once more.

The hype across the teenager from Warrington as he appears to defend his world championship title is unmatched. Many see him profitable it as a foregone conclusion. Others see it as an opportunity to show the punters, pundits and bookmakers mistaken by backing one of many different horses.

To name anybody ‘unbeatable’ is only a fictitious assertion – even the good Phil Taylor misplaced, sometimes! You might be on an unbeaten run, you’ll be able to look like you’re unstoppable. However everybody has an off day, everybody has their weaknesses, everybody can have an off evening.

However, with Littler, it takes a very long time of mulling over to determine what may cease him in his tracks on the Worlds.

A format that fits him? Tick! A stage he thrives on? Tick! A draw that leaves the larger boys competing over the longer format? Tick!

Littler himself will know that the strain is on to ship, to turn out to be the primary back-to-back world champion since Gary Anderson in 2016, to turn out to be solely the fourth alongside Taylor, Anderson, and ‘Jackpot’ Adrian Lewis.

“My form says that I could beat anyone right now,” mentioned Littler. “Ten years in the past, Gary Anderson gained back-to-back titles, and ten years later, I am standing right here as the present champion and I am trying to go back-to-back myself.

“I’ve got that number one spot now and hopefully I can have another tournament to remember this time around.

“I’ve gained the final three massive majors and there is just one extra to go within the yr. It was my first massive match on the Worlds, and with the gang behind me, it seems like house at Ally Pally.”

On Thursday evening, his defence begins in opposition to Lithuanian arrowsmith Darius Labanauskas, stay on Sky Sports activities, and in simply three weeks’ time, the query will probably be answered as as to if the world No 1 goes to take himself to even additional dizzying heights.

“It could have been easier, but it could have been tougher. Now it’s laser-focus on that first game,” Littler revealed. “No matter what I average, I just want to get that first win under my belt and then hopefully I can come back and win it again.”

Runner-up, champion, now higher than ever?

Not many boast a world championship document fairly like Littler. A runner-up on his debut to Luke Humphries in a match that began what’s now often called the ‘Luke Littler’ impact.

Then, he betters that on try quantity two as he beat Michael van Gerwen within the remaining to finish the journey from future star to the beginning of the second.

Dare I say, he enters the 2026 competitors in even scarier kind after one other yr to recollect.

Littler can be now formally the youngest ever PDC world No 1 at 18 years and 299 days, with the earlier document being held by Michael van Gerwen at 24 years and 251 days in 2014.

Not solely that, in 2025 5 extra main titles – the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, UK Open, Grand Slam, and Gamers Championship Finals – had been secured, with Littler additionally savouring success on the Australian Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters, Belgian Darts Open, Flanders Darts Trophy, and Gamers Championship 32.

When he will get into the longer format, when he will get into the massive finals, each top-level participant has left scratching their head at learn how to beat him.

That units some precedent heading into the most important dance of all of them…

The problem forward…

Nevertheless, Littler is greater than conscious he has a problem forward of him. His largest rival, Humphries, declared battle on him.

“When I get to the Worlds I’ll be fighting hard to take it back off him. It’s war now! I’m going to try and take it back,” Humphries mentioned on the Grand Slam.

“I’m ready for the Worlds now. I’m going to win the Worlds.

“I’m [declaring war] as a result of I am clearly dissatisfied to lose the final three finals, however I am enjoying good and the tiredness crept in on the finish there.

“One game a day suits me. We’re going to go to war. World Championships, me and him in a final. We’re going to see who’s the number one there.”

Not solely that, everyone already has their eyes on a possible quarter-final conflict between Littler and Gerwyn Worth.

Worth boasts a powerful document in opposition to the world No 1. They’ve performed one another on 19 events and Worth has gained seven of them, Littler choosing up 12.

The ‘Iceman’ has put in sturdy stints in opposition to Littler, at one level claiming a six-match unbeaten streak in opposition to the ‘Nuke’ and so he may have the arrogance that in the event that they meet, he can problem him.

Nevertheless, he’s not assembly the Littler of 18 months in the past, he’s assembly the Littler of now who has a powerful head on his shoulders, has matured personally and in his sport, and is “motivated” to maintain making extra historical past.

“I was nervous when I wasn’t champion, and now I’m coming in as a reigning champion, there’s just going to be a bit of nerves, but once I get a few legs on the board, I think I’ll be good to go,” Littler mentioned.

“I wouldn’t say worse, because I know what to expect. If I am nervous and start getting the shakes or something, I know what to do, just got to compose yourself, drink your water backstage. Like I said, there’s going to be nerves, 100 per cent.

“It has been 10 years since somebody gained this back-to-back, so that is what’s on my thoughts, after which I take into consideration the cash.”

The large query: The best way to beat him?

So, how precisely do you beat him? That’s the query everybody would love answered.

Littler himself has some ideas…

“Obviously, some people say there isn’t (any weaknesses).

“Clearly for myself, it is a double in share, it is if my arms there, and my fingers aren’t balanced sufficient.

“So you’ve got to get better at them doubles and you’ve got to be able to do that in the first round.”

Statistically, the sooner in a contest you meet Littler, the extra possible you’re to beat him. Over to you, Labanauskas!

There have additionally been events on which he has had gradual begins or the gang being in opposition to him has gone in opposition to him.

The factor about him is, although, he’ll at all times recuperate. You not solely must pounce however maintain your management and if somebody can do this, they are going to pull off the most important win of the Worlds.

Can anybody cease him?

For Colin ‘Jaws’ Lloyd, his trajectory has been one thing particular to observe unfold and now the speak will flip, already, to how he backs it up in 2026.

“In one word, frightening. Yeah, absolutely frightening. He’s 18 years old,” former world No 1 Lloyd mentioned on the Love the Darts podcast. “He’s just turned to adulthood. And what he’s achieved in the game.

“You actually would not have thought it was potential due to all the category gamers which can be on the market like James Wade, Gerwyn Worth, Luke Humphries and Johnny Clayton.

“There’s so many players you can pick from that have had the opportunities to stop him. But unfortunately on the day, they haven’t been good enough.”

There is no such thing as a denying that there’s a raft of expertise projected to satisfy Littler alongside the way in which.

The query is whether or not they can step as much as the calibre that’s required to neutralise ‘The Nuke’.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely stay from December 11 to January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel (Sky channel 407 from December 10). Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW.