Luke Littler starts defence of PDC World Championship title with 3-0 victory over Lithuania's Darius Labanauskas
Littler, 18, posts three-dart average of 101.54 and hits seven 180s
Thursday's results: Kim Huybrechts 1-3 Arno Merk, Michael Smith 3-0 Lisa Ashton, Littler 3-0 Labanauskas, Madars Razma 3-1 Jamai van den Herik
All first-round matches are best of five sets; each set is best of five legs
£1m prize for winner of final on Saturday, 3 January
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Result: Huybrechts 1-3 Merk
Solid stuff from Arno Merk.
He ends with an average of 89.73 with three 180s and 14 140s.
An impressive enough 40% on the doubles as well.
He'll face either former champion Peter Wright or Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the second round.
Huybrechts 1-3 Merk (0-3)
Image source, PA MediaArno Merk wins on his World Championship debut!
Fantastic display from the German, despite a blip in that third set, and he is loving it.
Huge celebrations after hitting double eight to seal the win.
An early exit for Kim Huybrechts.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to have struggled on a mini dartboard so it was nice to see that even the best don't find it easy...
Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen play mini darts
Huybrechts 1-2 Merk (3-1)
Kim Huybrechts is battling at Ally Pally.
The Belgian produces a 113 checkout to deny Arno Merk a break in the opening leg of the third set.
Merk then misses three darts to break for a 2-1 lead, Huybrechts holds with an 80 out and with his German opponent still clearly upset with himself, gets a break of his own to pull a set back.
A massive part of a night at the darts is the fancy dress, with all sorts of weird and wonderful costumes on show.
Here are a few already spotted by photographers at Alexandra Palace this evening, including Bully from Bullseye.
No speedboats on offer to tonight's winners on the oche, though. Just a place in round two.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesThe PDC World Championship is a gruelling marathon, with 127 matches to be played across the next three-and-a-bit weeks (with a few rest days factored in) to find a winner.
The final will be played on Saturday, 3 January 2026.
Throughout the tournament, there will be daily round-ups of the action on the BBC Sport website and app. There will also be live text coverage of the biggest matches as the tournament progresses - such as this evening, with Luke Littler starting the defence of his title.
BBC Radio 5 Live will also have regular updates from Alexandra Palace throughout the event.
Huybrechts 0-2 Merk (0-3)
Brilliant from Arno Merk.
The German is a set away from the second round after sweeping the second set.
He was dominant and his scoring has really picked up, his average is up to 94.35 now.
Kim Huybrechts is an experienced campaigner and he is going to have to draw on all of that experience to come back from two sets down.
We're right at the start of this World Championship and so, for the uninitiated, here is how it all works...
The format is set play, unlike most other tournaments which are a race to a number of legs.
A set consists of the best of five legs or race to three.
Only in matches where players are level on sets and legs in the deciding set do players need to win by two clear legs.
BBC Radio 5 Live
A special World Championship preview programme is just about to get under way on BBC Radio 5 Live - you can listen to it via the link at the top of this page and on BBC Sounds.
James Gregg is joined by Phill Barrs, reporter for Online Darts, and former PDC professional Matthew Edgar to look ahead to this year's tournament at Alexandra Palace.
You know its nearly Christmas when Ally Pally is back on the screens!
Griff, Kidderminster
Huybrechts 0-1 Merk (2-3)
Image source, PA MediaA nervous start but Arno Merk really hit his stride as the set went on and punches the air after hitting double 16 to break to win it.
Kim Huybrechts had really ramped up the pressure with a superb 174 set-up to leave 16 but Merk doesn't give him a look at it.
He gets just one dart to clinch the set but that is all he needs. Good start from the debutant.
Use the contact form on this page to get in touch with us during our live text coverage of the 2026 PDC World Championship.
A selection of submissions will be included among our updates.
Huybrechts 0-0 Merk (1-1)
It starts with a pair of treble 20s from Kim Huybrechts but it's not a vintage opening leg.
Early nerves from Arno Merk and Huybrechts holds, hitting double eight with his 21st dart.
Merk responds well, though, hitting the first 180 of this year's Worlds on his way to a 13-darter to level it up in the first set.
For the first time at this World Championship, here are those familiar words from John McDonald.
"For the thousands watching live - and the millions watching around the world... it's time to meet the players!"
Kim Huybrechts and Ally Pally debutant Arno Merk are nearly ready to get things started...
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Getty ImagesA familiar face - and voice - will depart the stage at the end of this year's World Championship.
MC John McDonald has worked full-time on PDC tournaments since 2007 and will retire at the end of this event.
When the news was announced in October, McDonald said he has "loved every moment" of his time working on the PDC circuit and this year's final was the "perfect place for me to end".
Long-serving referee George Noble will also retire from PDC officiating duties at the end of the tournament.
First round, fourth quarter
Image source, PA MediaFirst round, third quarter
First round, second quarter
Image source, PA MediaThe top 32 ranked players were seeded for the tournament. Unlike recent years, the top 32 will enter in the first round, instead of the second.
Seeded players denoted in brackets
First round, first quarter
A reminder that this is an extended World Championship with a record 128 players in the main draw.
So before the first of a record number of walk-ons, let's quickly look at the draw in full...