Luke Littler has admitted he is hoping to avoid a first-round showdown with Beau Greaves when he begins the defence of his world title at Alexandra Palace next month, following his victory at the Players Championship on Sunday night.
The 18-year-old, who became the youngest champion in PDC history at the start of 2025, returns to the World Darts Championship as the top seed and the foremost name among 40 automatic qualifiers for the 2025/26 tournament.
This year brings a significant change to the championship format.
All competitors, including the top 32 seeds, must start in the opening round, where they are guaranteed to face opponents ranked between 65 and 128 in the world.
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It is a shift that could produce early heavyweight clashes, and one possible pairing has already caught Littler’s attention.
Greaves, the dominant force on the Women’s Series, beat Littler 6-5 in the semi-finals of the PDC World Youth Championship in October, and she is now positioned as a potential opening opponent for the defending champion.
The prospect of an immediate rematch is one Littler is less than enthusiastic about.
Luke Littler has been in stunning form in 2025 | PA
Luke Littler has admitted he is hoping to avoid a first-round showdown with Beau Greaves when he begins the defence of his world title at Alexandra Palace next month, following his victory at the Players Championship on Sunday night
|PA
“We’ll have to see who I draw,” he said. “There are loads of huge names. Us seeds start in round one, so it’s two matches before Christmas.
"I wouldn’t fancy Beau Greaves first up - I don’t think many people would want me to win.”
Littler’s comments follow his latest milestone: a maiden Players Championship title secured with an 11-8 victory over Nathan Aspinall.
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Beau Greaves was too strong for Luke Littler in their showdown back in October
| GETTYThe teenager, who has routinely broken records since bursting onto the scene at the tail end of 2023, suggested he is beginning to embrace moments of emotion that he once suppressed.
Speaking to ITV, he reflected on the result as part of a larger aspiration.
“It wasn’t easy to reach this final, but I’m proud to tick this one off the list. Now there are only two more [the European Championship and World Masters] to go [for the clean sweep]," he stated.
"I know I played brilliantly throughout the tournament and I’m glad I got the job done.
"Early on in my career I was just being myself, but now I’m starting to let out a bit more emotion and it’s paying off.
"I’m very proud to lift this trophy, and now it’s all eyes on the big one at the World Championship.”
Luke Littler poses with his trophy after winning the Players Championship
|PA
While Littler prepares to defend his crown, Greaves has been forced to settle for disappointment in recent major youth competition.
Prior to the Players Championship final, Gian van Veen successfully defended his World Youth Championship title with a 6-3 victory over the Women’s Series star.
Even so, her performance throughout the season has cemented her as one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the draw.
The World Darts Championship runs from December 11 to January 3, where Littler will attempt to replicate his historic run of last year.
He was too strong for Michael van Gerwen in January, reigning supreme 12 months after suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Luke Humphries.
Whether or not Greaves stands in his path from the outset remains to be seen.