"It all started here at the World Championships" - Luke Littler eagerly anticipating Ally Pally return and potential Fallon Sherrock battle

The draw has been confirmed for the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship and in his opening match, one of the pre-tournament favourites Luke Littler has been handed a very intriguing tie in the form of either Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock.

Littler came into last year's World Darts Championship as a relatively unknown 16-year-old, earning qualification through his victory at the World Youth Championship. By the time his run came to an end and the Sid Waddell Trophy was handed out to Luke Humphries on January 3rd though, Littler's name was on the lips of people all over world, even non-followers of darts.

Proving that Ally Pally was no fluke, Littler has again starred throughout 2024, winning titles at the Premier League Darts, World Series of Darts Finals and Grand Slam of Darts among others, hitting multiple nine-darters en route. As mentioned though, this time last year, this all would have seemed a long way off. "It all started here at the World Championships," Littler recalls in conversation with Sky Sports from the draw. "I didn't think to myself at the start of the year: 'You'll pick up ten titles, three majors.' But it all just comes down to me and my performances."

In terms of the draw, it is Meikle or Sherrock up first for the teenage sensation. In the 'tougher' half of the draw though, a repeat world final with Humphries is not on the cards this year, with the pair set to meet in the semi-finals. "I know if I win, Ritchie Edhouse wins, it's him up next so I've had a little look through," he admits. ''There are some tough ones, but I'll just have a scan through and see who I can meet."

The upcoming edition of the PDC World Darts Championship gets under way at the Alexandra Palace on Sunday the 15th of December, with three first-round matches and one second-round match on the opening evening, with the schedule of play still yet to be confirmed.