PDC World Darts Championship Round-Up | Luke Littler pushed but through as title defence begins while Michael Smith sweeps Lisa Ashton

Luke Littler is through to the second round of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship as either Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies will be his foe next on the Ally Pally stage.

Albeit a 3-0 win in reality didn't massively tell the full story of his PDC World Darts Championship return. Littler wrangled with seemingly the first appearance of the Ally Pally wasp and as he spoke to Polly James he said that the scoreline didn't reflect the close nature of the games.

He saw off Darius Labanauskas 3-0 but in every set it was all but one that went to a deciding leg and was very much Littler turning on the afterburners to quell any chance of a 'Lucky D' surge as he couldn't find the break he needed to attack 'The Nuke'.

The darling of the Palace and the player that everyone is talking about, he doesn't return now until the 21st and in that time he could be Sports Personality of the Year. Albeit he downplayed that too with 'The Nuke' hoping Lando Norris wins it, the new F1 Drivers Champion.
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In this landscape though he is the favourite albeit he started under pressure. Littler lost the opening leg but was immediately in business pinning double eight for 1-1 to level up. Littler could only pressure from 164 and Labanauskas then hit 80 to go one away from the opening set. But on the verge, Labanauskas couldn't get the second treble 19 for 138 and Littler who was taken to a decider took out 76 for the opening set.

Labanauskas missed two darts to begin set two. Littler hit double 20 to hold throw. Littler missed 87 on the bull for a break and Labanauskas hit 78 to draw level. But it was a familiar story as  Littler hit another maximum. Labanauskas missed 121 on the bull and Littler held to go one away from a two set lead.

Labanauskas hit double 16 to send the set to another decider. But Littler pinned double 10 to win the second set. Labanauskas pinned 52 to open up and hold but Littler was immediately at it on his throw hitting a maximum and held for 1-1. Littler hit a 120 checkout to break throw and was now throwing for the win and he hit double six to seal the win.

There as ever with Michael Smith is a lot of doubts when it comes to 'Bully Boy' as to what condition he will turn up in given his plethora of injuries in recent years since he won the World title in 2023.

But while he only averaged 91 in the end, he managed to make it pretty comfortable as he took down Lisa Ashton 3-0 to seal an opening win. Ashton troubled him early though. She hit a 72 checkout to start. Smith had darts to break Ashton but The Lancashire Rose returned for 48 for 2-1. Ashton missed 127 for the set and smooth as you like, Smith hit 88 to send it to a decider. Bully Boy weathered the early storm as he hit a 15-darter on double eight to sneak ahead 1-0.

A 76 checkout for Smith after being on a nine-darter saw him lead set two. A 70 checkout to break followed that up as he had the double 20 on the edge of his throw like a string. He hit double 10 to go 2-0 up in sets.

Smith hit double two to lead set three. A 180 to leave 81 saw 'Bully Boy' go one away from the win. he missed six match darts and Ashton stayed alive but he was throwing for the win sealing it in the end and he will be back for the second round to face either Niels Zonneveld or Haupai Puha.

A youth prodigy that was touted a number of years ago until as he put it post match he received hate comments, Arno Merk is back at 33 and he took down Kim Huybrechts.

He won 3-1 in the end against a Belgian who lacked his usual aggression and swagger. To start Merk hit double six with Huybrechts waiting for the set. Both were pumped up and it went to a decider.

An exceptional 174 for Huybrechts to leave 62 but it was a set dart for Merk who pinned 62 for the set. A brilliant 58 checkout from Merk and he opened his account to head into the second set. Merk doubled his lead and was throwing for the set. He missed 138 for the set but returned and was a set away.

A 113 checkout for Huybrechts albeit with Merk sat waiting to pounce. Merk missed 101 for a leg back but Huybrechts could only pressure as the German levelled on double four. Merk had to stay a bit longer as Huybrechts initially missed set darts but Merk couldn't get a stab at 138 to put enough pressure on and the Belgian finally returned for 2-1 down in sets.

Huybrechts threw his darts in frustration as Merk went one away with a break of throw on double five. The game was starting slip through the fingers again of the Belgian and it fully did as Merk sealed the win. Next though is Peter Wright or Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

While to end the night it was Madars Razma who booked a potential tie with Dimitri van den Bergh. Not exactly a quick or inspiring match. But he completed a hard fought 3-1 success over Jamai van den Herik, the Dutch debutant coming through some early resolve to move through.

Experience told against a player who has had some success on the secondary tour but was making his Ally Pally debut so it was very much the tale of two halves as Merk thrived but Van den Herik was beaten by the more tried and tested player.