Darts Tips: World Championship Day 1 Predictions & Odds
The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship gets up and running on Thursday night and all eyes will be on a certain 18-year-old.
Darts Tips: World Championship Day 1
Reigning and defending world champion, Luke Littler, is the star attraction on Day 1 inside North London’s Alexandra Palace, opening up his title defence against Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas.
Sharing the slate with “The Nuke” are Kim Huybrechts, Arno Merk, Madars Razma, Lisa Ashton, Jamai van den Herik and world champion from 2023, Michael Smith, as everyone dreams of racking up three sets and advancing into the second round.
Let’s take a look at my darts betting tips for Day 1 of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship:
Tip 1: Lisa Ashton to win 1st set vs Michael Smith at 4/1 with William Hill
After a couple of seasons shot of confidence and riddled with injury, Michael Smith returns to the Ally Pally three years on from his historic title.
“Bully Boy” has tumbled down to No. 28 in the rankings since, and will be wary of a headline-making opener against 55-year-old Lisa Ashton.
Ashton has never advanced past the opening round at the PDC World Championship but has managed to win five sets en route to all of these exits, losing narrowly 3-2 to Ryan Meikle and Adam Hunt.
Smith will feel the nerves back on the stage at the Palace after a quiet few seasons.
We don’t think Ashton will advance, but 4/1 with betting sites to catch Smith cold and grab the opening set looks great.
Tip 2: Luke Littler 3-0 Darius Labanauskas at 8/15 with bet365
Luke Littler will treat this as a sprint race to nine legs as he opens up the defence of his title from last year.
The 18-year-old thrives the longer the match goes on, and a generous race to three sets in the first round will give him plenty of time to get over the line against Labanauskas.
These two have never played each other on TV, but a quiet couple of seasons for Labanauskas suggests that the underdog won’t be able to lay a paw on Littler this Thursday.
Littler has only swept Christian Kist at his two World Championship appearances, but we’re expecting Labanauskas’ name to be added to this list.
Tip 3: Madars Razma 3-1 Jamai van den Herik at 16/5 with Ladbrokes
22-year-old Jamai van den Herik is one for the future rather than the now.
The Dutchman has had a fruitful season on the PDC Challenge Tour and PDC Development Tour but his inexperience will play into the hands of Latvian Madars Razma.
Razma heads to the Worlds for the seventh year straight and has reached the third round the last two seasons, and with a major TV quarter-final under his belt from 2022 has the muscle memory to get over the line in these career-defining matches.
Up to No. 46 in the world in the PDC rankings, Razma has the game to win this with a little room to breathe at 3-1.
Darts World Championship Day 1 Schedule
We want to give more than just betting tips to fans, so here's a look at who's lined up to play on day one at the Ally Pally.
Thursday December 11
- Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk
- Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton
- Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas
- Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik
Darts World Championship Latest Odds
Every step of the way, Free Bets will be with you giving tips and predictions for the games, plus keeping you up to date with the latest betting odds.
Before a dart is thrown in London, here's how the market looks.
