Luke Littler had little to fear from Darius Labanauskas in his opening-round match at the 2026 PDC World Championship. Still, the young star experienced a brief moment of alarm when he was confronted by an unexpected intruder immediately after the match, as captured in circulating footage.
The first appearance of the tournament for the Ally Pally wasp 🤣 pic.twitter.com/rpUXdZmkLO
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 11, 2025
Labanauskas delivered a respectable performance, posting a 95.25 average, but Littler’s current form continues to be exceptional. The teenager added yet another three-figure average to his growing list, finishing with 101.54. The Lithuanian managed to take five legs, yet it was not enough to claim a set against the in-form Englishman.
The evening also marked the first appearance of a Dutch player at this year’s World Championship. Jamai van den Herik faced Latvia’s Madars Razma and, after falling 0–1 behind in sets, managed to level the match. However, Razma’s experience ultimately proved decisive. The Latvian secured a 3–1 victory to book his place in the next round.
Joining him there is Michael Smith, who ended Lisa Ashton’s hopes of producing an early upset. “Bully Boy,” who has struggled with injuries in recent months, looked composed throughout. He defeated the former women’s world champion in straight sets, 3–0.
Also on the card was the clash between Kim Huybrechts and Germany’s Arno Merk. It has been some time since “The Hurricane” last graced the PDC stage after years competing among the sport’s elite. Now ranked 53rd in the world, a deep run in the World Championship would have given the Belgian a much-needed boost.
Unfortunately for Huybrechts, that push was not to be. Merk proved too strong, winning 3–1 in sets. The Belgian’s 86.24 average allowed him to claim a single leg, but he could not make further inroads.
The tournament continues on Friday with both an afternoon and evening session. Four Dutch players are scheduled to appear, including Cor Dekker, who is counted as a compatriot for this event.