Luke Littler remains the overwhelming bookmakers’ favorite to defend his World Championship title as new third favourite installed
PDCFriday, 26 December 2025 at 19:00
After the first two rounds of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, Luke Littler remains the clear bookmakers’ favorite to lift the world title again.
The defending champion dispatched Darius Labanauskas convincingly in his opener in London. And although his second-round match against David Davies was a touch trickier, he still wrapped it up relatively comfortably 3-0. That saw ‘The Nuke’ ease into the last 32 without too many alarms.
In the third round, the 18-year-old sensation faces Mensur Suljovic, whose very slow tempo could pose problems. While Littler was 11/10 with Paddy Power before the tournament, his price has now shortened to 4/6 to claim the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 3.
Behind Littler is world number two Luke Humphries at 9/2. Like Littler, the Englishman negotiated his first two rounds without major issues. He first beat Ted Evetts 3-1, then swept aside Singaporean darts legend Paul Lim 3-0 in round two. He now meets Germany’s Gabriel Clemens in the third round.
Reigning European champion Gian van Veen is priced at 15/2 by the sponsors, making him the third favorite. The Dutchman took care of the tricky Spaniard Cristo Reyes in his opener, but really impressed in his second-round tie. Although he was in early trouble by falling 1-0 down in sets and later 2-1 down in the second set, he then hit the accelerator. He still nicked set two and did not drop another leg, sealing the match with an average of over 108.
Michael van Gerwen follows at a respectable distance at 14/1 for a fourth world crown. He is trailed by the likes of Josh Rock (18/1), Stephen Bunting (28/1), and three-time world champion Gary Anderson (33/1). The World Championship resumes on Saturday, 12/27/2025, when the first six matches of the third round take place at Alexandra Palace.
Outright odds per Paddy Power (after round two)
- 4/6 – Luke Littler
- 9/2 – Luke Humphries
- 15/2 – Gian van Veen
- 14/1 – Michael van Gerwen
- 18/1 – Josh Rock
- 28/1 – Stephen Bunting
- 33/1 – Gary Anderson
- 40/1 – Nathan Aspinall
- 66/1 – Krzysztof Ratajski, Jonny Clayton, Justin Hood
- 80/1 – Callan Rydz, Ryan Searle
- 125/1 – Martin Schindler, Andrew Gilding, Jermaine Wattimena, Ricky Evans
- 150/1 – Ricardo Pietreczko, Rob Cross, Luke Woodhouse, Charlie Manby
- 175/1 – Damon Heta
- 200/1 – Arno Merk
- 275/1 – Wesley Plaisier, Niels Zonneveld
- 300/1 – Kevin Doets, Madars Razma
- 350/1 – Gabriel Clemens, Mensur Suljovic
- 400/1 – Andreas Harrysson
- 500/1 – Ryan Meikle, James Hurrell
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- Mincer has been doing forever,and yes I called him mincerrick6723-12-2025
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- Scuttle off then Crockstar Always whining and crying about something as it is the only news this talentless nobody can generate as he is certainly never generating it from the oche. He isn't good enough and has an excuse every time. Crockstar should concentrate on his darts than watching his cheap watch. Mensur has his idiosyncrasies on the stage but no worse than most other players and did nothing wrongrichieburnettrocks22-12-2025
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- Difficult one. Obviously has some struggles but you can't allow that behaviour. The damage to his hand from punching and blocking the pyrotechnics will keep him out for months anyway, but ban to the matchplay and fine whatever his prize money was for this event, with a heavy suspended ban on top.BandB17-12-2025
- 1 year ban and £15,000 fine.medinabello16-12-2025
- can you not at least attempt to proof read these recaps? the whitlock scutt one in particular is both inaccurate and mindbogglingly unreadablecolt16-12-2025
- Look, everyone knows he likes to wind up his opponents. Today,his worst,and always will be,best opponent,is himself. I don't dislike the bloke,but he can only blame himself.rick6715-12-2025
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