Preview second quarter at 2025 PDC World Darts Championship: Luke Littler looking to improve from last year's fairy tale run
PDC
The clock is ticking, and the PDC World Darts Championship is fast approaching. The crown jewel of the darts season is less than two weeks away now, with the action kicking off on December 15th and running all the way until January 3rd. It’s set to be another festive period filled with brilliant matches, but who will get their hands on the trophy this year?
Over the next month a flood of darts fans will start making their way to the capital and to Alexandra Palace, the home of the World Darts Championship since 2008. This time last year, Luke Humphries confirmed his status as the world number 1, as he added his first world title to his collection, and Cool Hand will be one of the favourites again this year. But what about the new Grand Slam of Darts Champion, Luke Littler? At 17 years old, ‘the Nuke’ really is a phenomenon and it’s more of a question of when, not if, he wins his first world title.
But there’s far more than just the two Luke’s, and since the draw was made last week, we’ve began to look at who is in action in the full second round. The tournament follows a knockout format, beginning with a field of 96 of the world’s very best players. The tournament is split into preliminary and main rounds, and the top 32 players from the PDC Order of Merit are automatically seeded into the second round. They are joined by qualifiers from a range of regional events, who compete in the opening round, and matches increase in length as the tournament progresses, starting as best-of-5 sets and culminating in a best-of-13 sets final.
With a total prize pool of £2,500,000, there’s a lot at stake. The winner will go home with their pockets filled with half a million, while even a second-round exit guarantees £15,000. Now, let’s take a closer look at the second quarter of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.
Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock
The second quarter of the PDC World Darts Championship will see the introduction of one of the biggest names in British sport right now, Luke Littler. No matter how many times you’re told just how young he is, you still can’t get used to it. Last year, Littler burst on to the scene and in the space of a few weeks became a household name, and eventually finished as the runner up to Luke Humphries.
Last month, Littler claimed his first ranking PDC major title at the Grand Slam of Darts, winning on debut by demolishing Martin Lukeman 16 – 3, including winning 15 legs on the spin. He also had an all time great match with Gary Anderson that went down to the last leg in the semi-final, and if Littler is the form we saw from him in Wolverhampton, he could be unstoppable over the festive period.
The 17 year old will face either Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock in the second round. Sherrock earned the nickname the ‘Queen of the Palace,’ when she made it to the third round back in 2020. Fans would love to see Littler and Sherrock face off in the second round, and we wonder which fan favourite would get more support.
Rob Cross vs Scott Williams or Niko Springer
The second round of the PDC World Darts Championship will see the return of 2018 World Champion Rob Cross, a man who remains one of the most underrated threats in the game despite all he has achieved. Despite the fact he’s the 5th seed, a previous winner, and was only beaten in the semi-final last year by Littler, Cross somehow continues to fly under the radar.
At 34 years old, Cross may not have claimed a ranked major since 2019, but that doesn’t diminish just how talented he is. He is a player who knows how to deliver on the biggest stages, and he regularly brings his best form to Alexandra Palace. Cross is usually strong under pressure, and he’ll be looking to start this year’s campaign with a commanding victory.
Cross will face either Scott Williams or Niko Springer. Williams, a familiar opponent, was defeated by Cross at the same stage during 2023, whilst Springer, a 24-year-old rising star from Germany, will be making his debut at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Ritchie Edhouse vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing
Ritchie Edhouse, the 29th seed, comes into this year’s PDC World Darts Championship riding high after a breakthrough 2024 season. The 41-year-old from Essex stunned fans by claiming his first major title at the European Championship, dismantling Jermaine Wattimena 11-3 in a dominant display. That performance was a big surprise, now the question is whether he can translate that success to the sport’s biggest stage.
Despite his European Championship triumph, Edhouse has struggled at the World Championship in the past, never progressing beyond the second round. Last month’s Grand Slam of Darts also ended at that stage, a disappointing exit after such a promising lead-up. This year, he’ll be determined to put those previous shortcomings behind him and prove that his European championship win was no fluke.
Edhouse will face either Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing in his opening match. White, a familiar name in the darting world, boasts a huge amount of world championship experience, including a quarter-final appearance at the 2014 World Championship, only losing to Simon Whitlock. Sosing, by contrast, is an untested figure at this level, which could make him an unpredictable challenge for Edhouse.
Nathan Aspinall vs Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates
Nathan Aspinall returns to Alexandra Palace looking to rekindle the form that has seen him reach the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship twice before, back in 2019 and 2020. At 33, Aspinall is no stranger to the big stage, and his victory at the 2023 World Matchplay is the highlight of his career so far. However, his 2024 season has been underwhelming so far, and last year’s disappointing second-round exit at the world championship will be fresh in his mind. Aspinall knows he needs to step up to make a deeper run this time around.
In the second round, Aspinall will face either Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates, two very different but equally intriguing opponents. Menzies comes into the World Championship in career-best form, having reached the quarter-finals of last month’s Grand Slam of Darts. The Scotsman will certainly fancy his chances of causing an upset, especially if he can carry that momentum into the tournament.
Leonard Gates is a veteran of the game, and at 54 years old, the American is one of the best senior players on the circuit, but remains relatively untested at the World Championship level. Gates made his debut at Alexandra Palace in 2023 but failed to progress beyond the second round. While he could pose a challenge, he’ll need to bring something special to overcome Menzies and then Aspinall.
Danny Noppert vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas
Danny Noppert enters this year’s World Darts Championship looking to break past his third-round barrier, which is where he’s exited on four previous occasions. The 33-year-old Dutchman, a former UK Open champion, has proven himself on the big stage before and is coming off a semi-final appearance at the 2024 European Championship.
In the second round, he will face either Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas. Joyce, a 39-year-old from Newcastle, reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship back in 2019 and the semi-finals of this year’s World Grand Prix. His experience and recent form make him a strong favourite against Labanauskas, the Lithuanian who was also a World Championship quarter finalist back in 2017.
Read also
Full draw for the second quarter of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship
Luke Littler (4) vs Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock
Ritchie Edhouse (29) vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing
Danny Noppert (13) vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas
Ryan Searle (20) vs Mensur Suljovic or Matt Campbell
Rob Cross (5) vs Scott Williams or Niko Springer
Gian van Veen (28) vs Ricardo Pietreczko or Xiaochen Zong
Nathan Aspinall (12) vs Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates
Andrew Gilding (21) vs Martin Lukeman or Nitin Kumar
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- "For the past 20 years, the Grand Prix winner was there every time" Because all former winners were Top 8 players, as simple as that. "Now they say you get into the Premier League based on results. So apparently that's not the case" Results ? You just have ONE result over 2 years. Without these 3 days wonders, you wouldn't be Top 32... "Aspinall and Price. They didn't deserve it" Maybe, but never seems that you do. Other players must be picked before.cycyP309-01-2025
- Premier League is nothing more now than a pantomime where the crowd turn up and boo at the villain and cheer on the hero while getting pissed out their brains. Basically its the WWE of darts.Mysstree09-01-2025
- Is this the start of an attempt to say that he (Littler) is the best ever as he has won most money. Perhaps adjust all prize money earned by allowing for inflation. If Littler gets close too (does not even have to overtake) both MVG’s and Taylor’s Major titles total then he is in the conversation. Indicates to me that the prize money is skewed to much towards the top players, meritocracy must rule but a fair distribution of the money is needed otherwise its only ever about a select few.Mysstree09-01-2025
- £500 for 3 games seems so steep especially for those that lost 5-0 each time. I used to think Conan Whitehead was going to be a great player and was improving through the BDO but has just fizzled outrichieburnettrocks09-01-2025
- COME ON RICHIE BURNETT Safely through to the final stage an closing in on that card.richieburnettrocks09-01-2025
- It is shocking and unbelievable that 2 Hotty who was always such a decent player, 2 time World Champion and won the Grand Slam when it meant something. He really should have joined the PDC earlier. He has just disappeared off the radar. Such a shame when one of your favourite players just dissappears. I guess he is concentrating on the carpentry. I made a sign at Lakeside which must have been the biggest ever. It said we're potty for 2 Hotty, each word was on its own flip chart sheet of paper and gaffer taped together. Maybe Scotty should return to the WDF or whatever it is now.richieburnettrocks09-01-2025
- What the hell has happened to Scott Waites, didn’t even win a point.Mysstree08-01-2025
- One mistake is often followed by another, and the PDC have compounded their unimaginative PL picks with a doppelganger cast for the World Series. What an opportunity missed. It hurts the overburdened eight, it hurts the overlooked, it hurts the fans. Who gains? No one I can think of, not even the PDC shareholders.
UndartedWaters08-01-2025 - No, I wasn't expecting Heta to be in it either having won nothing of any significance. Although he is charismatic and has personality unlike the boring and dull as dishwater Dobey. It is quite pathetic and desperate the way Bunting and Arsepinall pander to the crowd to dance to their walk on music, that has worked though. I would like to see more players involved on a weekly basis similar to the Modus Super Series. A knockout tournament with 16 winners from each week. The Premier league is too boring with the same players. Plus it would eliminate all the whining and booing from unselected players.richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- Why is World Champion Richie Burnett not highlighted in bold font nor 2 time World Champion Scotty 2 Hotty. COME ON RICHIE BURNETT AND SCOTTY 2 HOTTY Although where the hell has 2 HOTTY been the past year!richieburnettrocks07-01-2025