Can anyone stop Luke Littler? World Championship opens with a rising star under pressure

December 6, 2025 Oliver Obel

Excitement is building at Alexandra Palace as the World Darts Championship approaches, and much of the pre-tournament conversation centers on one question: can anyone slow Luke Littler’s extraordinary rise?

The defending champion begins his campaign on December 11, returning to the stage where he stunned the sport last year. He opens against Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas a former quarter-finalist known for punishing even brief lapses.

A teenager carrying champion-level expectations

Littler arrives with a different aura this time. According to Sky Sports’ tournament preview, the 18-year-old is widely tipped to defend his title and become the first back-to-back world champion since Gary Anderson in 2015. His 2024 season, which included multiple major final appearances and a surge to world No.1, has only intensified those expectations.

On the Love the Darts podcast, former world No.1 Colin Lloyd said the youngster’s rise has been unlike anything he has witnessed. “In one word, frightening. Yeah, absolutely frightening. He's 18 years old,” Lloyd said. He added that few in the field had been able to cope with Littler’s tempo and accuracy. “You really wouldn't have thought it was possible… But unfortunately on the day, they haven't been good enough.”

The year ahead: a different kind of test

Lloyd believes the coming season will reveal how Littler adapts to the strain of life at the top of the rankings. “It'll be interesting to see what he does next year,” he said, noting that staying fully committed to the tour schedule is crucial to maintaining elite sharpness.

Littler’s quarter of the draw features several former major winners Damon Heta, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross along with Chris Dobey and the in-form Luke Woodhouse, who has been quietly stringing together strong performances over the past few months.

Voices around the sport weigh in

Beyond Lloyd, other analysts have pointed to how Littler has handled big-stage pressure. Several pundits speaking on Sky’s coverage highlighted his composure in late-set situations and his ability to recover quickly after mistakes traits that often take players years to develop.

Who poses the real threat?

Labanauskas, Lloyd noted, remains a danger if given opportunities. “If you give him an opportunity… he can be dangerous,” he said. But he quickly added that Littler rarely presents those openings: “Luke's been a player that doesn't give opportunities very often… he can be clinical.”

Still, many believe the most serious threat lies elsewhere. A possible quarter-final against 2021 champion Gerwyn Price known for thriving in intense atmospheres is widely viewed as the matchup most capable of rattling the defending champion. “There are plenty of people… that could cause an upset,” Lloyd said, before concluding: “The one is maybe Gerwyn Price.”

As fans begin filling Ally Pally, chants echoing through the venue and anticipation rising by the hour, the question remains the same: is this the year someone finally halts Littler’s charge or merely another chapter in his accelerating ascent?

Sources: Sky Sports; Love the Darts podcast