Luke Littler wants to become the first person in a decade to successfully defend the World Championship.
Littler became the youngest world champion when he beat Michael van Gerwen in the 2025 final and his star has only risen since.
The 18-year-old has won five major titles since then, including the Players Championship in November, and has overtaken Luke Humphries to sit at the top of the rankings.
He is the heavy favourite to win a second successive crown at Alexandra Palace and will begin against Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas on 11 December.
Only Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson have ever defended their title at Ally Pally, with the Scot winning in 2015 and 2016.
Littler said: "Defending is different. I have won the last few majors and now the big one is around the corner.
"Gary Anderson was the last person to go back-to-back and that was 10 years ago. I'll try to go back-to-back.
"Only three people have ever done it, the last time was 10 years ago. So I want to go back-to-back.
"I am very happy with the draw, he’s not the quickest player in the world, but it’s all about getting past the first round.
"It won’t be easy, but I just have to try and get past the first round.
"If there is nerves I will know how to cope, I didn’t have a clue last year, but this year I know what to expect. "
Gerwyn Price is a likely opponent in the quarter-final with world number four Stephen Bunting the highest-ranked player he could face in the semi-finals.
Luke Humphries, who would return to the summit of the ranking with victory at Ally Pally, has vowed to get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy again.
And he begins his campaign against Ted Evetts.
🎙️ "Fallon Sherrock smashes the glass ceiling!"
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 1, 2025
The moment Fallon Sherrock created history on the sport's biggest stage!
What a performance! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6TRiDqnvvX
Three-time winner Van Gerwen has been drawn against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami.
One of the standout ties of the first round sees three-time women’s world champion Beau Greaves take on World Cup winner Daryl Gurney.
Graves gave Van Gerwen and Anderson a run for their money in the recent Grand Slam of Darts and will provide a test for the Derry native.
Former world champion Michael Smith will take on Lisa Ashton while 'Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock faces Dave Chisnall.
Two-time world champion Peter Wright has been paired with Noa-Lynn van Leuven and Antrim's Josh Rock plays Gemma Hayter.
Carlow's Steve Lennon takes on Damon Heta, while Meath man Keane Barry also faces an Australian with Tim Pusey his opponent.
Mickey Mansell from Tyrone takes on USA's Leonard Gates, while Limerick's William O'Connor faces Krzysztof Kciuk in his opening game.
Fermanagh's Brendan Dolan meets Tavis Dudeney in the first round.
This year’s tournament has an extended field of 128 players and all seeded players will play twice before Christmas.
2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Round One Schedule
Thursday 11 December (1900)
Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk
Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton
Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas
Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik
Friday 12 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Niels Zonneveld v Haupai Puha
Ian White v Mervyn King
Ryan Searle v Chris Landman
Rob Cross v Cor Dekker
Evening Session (1900)
Ross Smith v Andreas Harrysson
Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung
Gian van Veen v Cristo Reyes
Damon Heta v Steve Lennon
Saturday 13 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Mario Vandenbogaerde v David Davies
Andrew Gilding v Cam Crabtree
Luke Woodhouse v Boris Krcmar
Gary Anderson v Adam Hunt
Evening Session (1900)
Jeffrey de Graaf v Paul Lim
Wessel Nijman v Karel Sedlacek
Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts
Gabriel Clemens v Alex Spellman
Sunday 14 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Ritchie Edhouse v Jonny Tata
Dom Taylor v Oskar Lukasiak
Richard Veenstra v Nitin Kumar
Joe Cullen v Bradley Brooks
Evening Session (1900)
Lukas Wenig v Wesley Plaisier
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Darren Beveridge
Stephen Bunting v Sebastian Bialecki
James Hurrell v Stowe Buntz
Monday 15 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Brendan Dolan v Tavis Dudeney
Cameron Menzies v Charlie Manby
Mensur Suljovic v David Cameron
Peter Wright v Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Evening Session (1900)
Martin Lukeman v Max Hopp
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Andy Baetens
Jonny Clayton v Adam Lipscombe
Connor Scutt v Simon Whitlock
Tuesday 16 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Alan Soutar v Teemu Harju
Nick Kenny v Justin Hood
Scott Williams v Paolo Nebrida
Chris Dobey v Xiaochen Zong
Evening Session (1900)
Ricardo Pietreczko v Jose de Sousa
Danny Noppert v Jurjen van der Velde
Gerwyn Price v Adam Gawlas
Niko Springer v Joe Comito
Wednesday 17 December (1900)
Matt Campbell v Adam Sevada
Raymond van Barneveld v Stefan Bellmont
James Wade v Ryusei Azemoto
Martin Schindler v Stephen Burton
Thursday 18 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Callan Rydz v Patrik Kovacs
Thibault Tricole v Motomu Sakai
Ryan Joyce v Owen Bates
Mike De Decker v David Munyua
Evening Session (1900)
Jermaine Wattimena v Dominik Gruellich
Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock
Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo
Friday 19 December Afternoon Session (1230)
Kevin Doets v Matthew Dennant
Ryan Meikle v Jesus Salate
Mickey Mansell v Leonard Gates
Josh Rock v Gemma Hayter
Evening Session (1900)
William O'Connor v Krzysztof Kciuk
Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Keane Barry v Tim Pusey
