"Obviously it could have been a lot worse": Luke Littler not underestimating Darius Labanauskas but breathes sigh of relief

The draw for the 2026 World Darts Championship took place yesterday. Reigning world champion Luke Littler - winner of the Players Championship Finals just last weekend - begins his title defense against Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas.

Littler looked back on the draw with satisfaction afterwards at the draw. "Yeah, I mean, obviously it could have been a lot worse with the players in the field, but I'm very happy with it — very happy. It could have been, like I said, a lot tougher, but yeah, I'll take Darius in the first round," he said to PDC.

'The Nuke,' who captured his sixth major title of the year last weekend with the Players Championship Finals, begins his World Cup on Thursday, Dec. 11. "No matter what I average, no matter how I win, I just want to get that first win under my belt, and then I can hopefully come back and win again. But yeah, it's just all eyes, laser-focused, on that first game."

It has been since Gary Anderson (2015 and 2016) that anyone has captured two consecutive world titles. "Gary won back-to-back titles. So 10 years later, I'm standing here as the current champion and I'm looking to go back-to-back."

Littler has had a particularly busy period with a succession of tournaments and exhibitions. "I'll have a little practise, but we've got a few days, exhibitions, a few days’ rest, exhibitions… and then, like I said there on Sky, four or five days off before the 11th. Exhibitions in Scotland and then Portsmouth, London — they’re long ones — but once I'm home for three or four days, then I'll be ready for the 11th."

For Littler, it will be his third participation at Alexandra Palace. "I can't wait. It just brings back memories from my first ever match against Christian Kist. I can't wait for it. Hopefully the crowd are ready for the walk-on, because I certainly am. And yeah, I can't wait to return to the Palace." Littler managed to win that match 3-0 and reached the final that year, which he lost 7-4 to Luke Humphries.

The playing schedule for the upcoming World Darts Championship is currently unknown. Littler does have to be in action on Dec. 11 anyway because the reigning world champion traditionally finishes his first match on opening day.