The stage is set for one of the most anticipated events in darts history: the 2025/26 Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. For the first time ever, a staggering 128 players will battle it out in an expanded first-round draw with no byes for the top seeds, all vying for a slice of the record-breaking £5 million prize fund—including a mouthwatering £1 million for the champion. The tournament kicks off on December 11 and culminates in the final on January 3, promising three weeks of non-stop drama under the bright lights of Ally Pally.
At the heart of the excitement is 21-year-old sensation Beau Greaves, the Women’s Series champion and a rising star who has turned heads with her blistering form. Handed a daunting first-round clash against world number 22 Daryl Gurney, Greaves faces an immediate test of her credentials. Gurney, fresh off partnering with Brendan Dolan to secure Northern Ireland’s World Cup of Darts triumph earlier this year, brings pedigree and power to the oche. It’s a matchup billed as one of the round’s absolute crackers, with Greaves’ silky scoring and ice-cool finishing pitted against Gurney’s seasoned nous. Should she navigate that hurdle, the path only gets steeper: a potential second-round showdown with Callan Rydz or Patrik Kovacs, followed by Northern Irish powerhouse Josh Rock in the third round, and fourth seed Danny Noppert lurking beyond.
Greaves enters Ally Pally riding a wave of momentum after a record-shattering 2025 campaign. Her qualification via the PDC Development Tour underscores her rapid ascent in the men’s game, and her recent exploits have even reigning world champion Luke Littler on edge. Just days ago, she fell short in the PDC World Youth Championship final against Gian van Veen, but not before proving her mettle. Littler, who admitted pre-draw nerves about drawing her, revealed his unique reasoning: “But I don’t think I’d like to play Beau Greaves in that first round because I don’t think many people want me to win.” Their rivalry adds extra spice—Greaves has stunned Littler in recent encounters, including a gripping 6-5 semi-final victory at the Youth Championships and another exhibition upset. At Ally Pally, where she made her debut in 2023, Greaves has the chance to etch her name into folklore.
Meanwhile, Littler himself dodged that bullet and opens his title defense against Lithuanian qualifier Darius Labanauskas, a former quarter-finalist with a penchant for upsets. The 18-year-old prodigy, who became the youngest PDC World Champion ever by thrashing Michael van Gerwen in January’s final, enters as the top seed and world number one. His road looks manageable early on: Labanauskas first, then likely Mario Vandenbogaerde or David Davies, before a third-round clash with Joe Cullen. But with the depth of this field, complacency is the enemy—no one’s successfully defended the title since Gary Anderson a decade ago.
Luke Humphries, the world number two and 2024 runner-up, kicks off against former world youth champion Ted Evetts in a tasty opener. Humphries’ half of the draw is a minefield, with a possible fourth-round meeting against Nathan Aspinall and a quarter-final showdown looming against three-time king Michael van Gerwen, who faces Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami. Humphries, hungry to reclaim his crown, knows every leg will be a war. “It’s going to be brutal,” he might say, echoing the sentiment of a field packed with predators.
Gerwyn Price, the 2021 champion known for his ice-in-the-veins pressure finishes, draws Czech qualifier Adam Gawlas—a wildcard who could spring a surprise. Price’s top-half positioning sets up intriguing potential clashes with Stephen Bunting or Martin Schindler down the line. Elsewhere, the drama piles on: Fallon Sherrock tackles former semi-finalist Dave Chisnall in a battle of crowd favorites; Michael Smith meets Women’s World Matchplay winner Lisa Ashton; Peter Wright faces transgender qualifier Noa-Lynn van Leuven; and Simon Whitlock returns to Ally Pally after two years, taking on Connor Scutt.
Other fireworks include Gary Anderson versus Adam Hunt, Jonny Clayton against Adam Lipscombe, and Josh Rock’s opener with Gemma Hayter. The bottom half teems with threats like Gian van Veen, James Wade, and Dimitri Van den Bergh, ensuring no easy paths to glory.
This draw isn’t just a schedule—it’s a gauntlet designed to crown the ultimate survivor. With Littler’s youth, Humphries’ hunger, Price’s grit, and Greaves’ fearless charge, Ally Pally is primed for magic, meltdowns, and maybe a nine-darter or two. As the arrows fly from December 11, one thing’s certain: the £1 million payday will go to someone who thrives under the brightest spotlight. Darts fans, buckle up—the world’s biggest stage just got bigger.
Leave a Reply