Luke Littler displayed commendable composure in his match against Darius Labanauskas during the initial round of the 2025-26 PDC World Championship. The 18-year-old emerged victorious with a 3-0 win amid a lively atmosphere at Alexandra Palace.
Despite the win, the reigning champion faced a tough challenge from Labanauskas, who, ranked 95th globally, started with a strong performance, securing the first leg with a 130 checkout on the bullseye.
Labanauskas pushed Littler to deciding legs in the first two sets, but Littler eventually prevailed over the former World Championship quarter-finalist. This win sets Littler up for a second-round encounter with either David Davies from Wales or Mario Vandenbogaerde from Belgium.
Reflecting on the match, Littler expressed satisfaction with his performance, acknowledging the nerves he faced initially but noting that winning a leg and a set helped settle him down. Littler emphasized the importance of the first set against the throw in a challenging game.
Commenting on Littler’s performance, Sky Sports pundit Mark Webster appreciated Littler’s honesty about the match’s difficulty, drawing parallels with his own experiences. Despite Labanauskas testing Littler, the latter demonstrated resilience and secured the victory.
With a brief break ahead, Littler, the teenage prodigy who previously won the Sid Waddell Trophy, aims to defend his title in the upcoming final next month.
The first round of the championship will continue for another week, culminating in the final on Saturday, January 3. Fans can catch all the live action of the PDC World Darts Championship starting December 11 exclusively on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.