"Those are the ones that could go either way": Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock to cause upsets? Wayne Mardle thinks so

Early this week, the draw for the upcoming World Darts Championship took place. Defending champion and brand new world number one Luke Littler was paired with Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas in the first round, and number two Luke Humphries will meet Englishman Ted Evetts in his opening match.

There will be 128 players participating in the World Darts Championship for the first time in history. "We are going to see a lot of new faces that come the end of the World's they will be on the tip of our tongues. There will be players there that we will say what on earth, how good is he or she," said former pro darts player Wayne Mardle to Sky Sports.

"The Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves one and Chizzy v Fallon Sherrock. Those are the ones that could go either way. They really could. Beau Greaves is world class there's no doubt about it. There could've been worse draws for Beau and Daryl, and they've drawn each other. Chizzy's not playing well, and Fallon will see that as an opportunity. As for the others (Noa-Lynn van Leuven, Lisa Ashton, and Gemma Hayter), I don't know if they will fancy their chances, but they're not the class of their opponent. They're just not where as Fallon is playing decent, but the way Dave Chisnall is playing is concerning for him."

Littler starts the World Championship as the defending champion. "He will give him (Labanauskas) respect but it's not going to bother Luke either. He said in his interview yeah he's a bit slow but he'll just adapt. He's the World Number One and current World Champion as he can adapt. I don't think he'll have any issues," said Mark Webster, winner of the 2008 BDO World Championship.

"I've also got to mention a mate from my home town has qualified (David Davies). If he wins his first game he gets a crack at Luke Littler. Massive for him so I'm pleased for him."

"For Littler not to win that tournament, he has to have an off day. He's not having many of them at the moment. He's brimming with confidence, he's ticking boxes and winning tournaments, and the World Championship is just another tournament for him to win. Yeah, there is all the clamour around the million prize pot. He just wants to win another tournament."

If Mardle had to list a downside to Littler, it would be his poor "board management but that he's unscarred.

"He's the freest darts player in the world mentally. There's no negatives at all, there's none of this oh I've tried to retain the World's before and it didn't work out for me. He's going into everything fresh and with the clarity of mind that he can do whatever he likes. Going back to the exhibition stuff, he does what he likes I'm not saying it's always right."

"He's leaving double 15 on purpose and splitting it. That's not good board management, it's poor but he gets away with it as he's so good. When you are so good, you get away with it. We did it with Phil (Taylor). He would leave 161, 162, 169. He'd win the World Championship as he's so good. Michael van Gerwen would hit 180 to leave double one but he can do what he likes because he's so good. Littler fits that mark."

"I think it'll be a Luke v Luke final. I'm already predicting it. I'm not going to sit on the fence and say Luke will win it. But I think he will retain it, they are head and shoulders ahead. But under pressure in set play, Littler has already shown what he can do in the World Grand Prix final. Every big leg he won."