Littler lights up Ally Pally opening night as prize money raises stakes

"Then more referees walk in, more linesmen, one of them in a comedy wig. And eventually the penny drops. Yes, the Darts is back: an indispensable festive trimming that much like Christmas itself always seems to roll around a little sooner every year. Fire up all the old cliches: the beauty of set play, bent the wire, pressure the shot. Wheel John Part out of the attic. Fingers poised on the 180 zoom."

"You know it's serious, because it's two hours before his match and Luke Littler is already on the practice board. Littler won on opening night, of course he did. Nobody will be too fussed about dwelling on the finer details of his 3-0 win over Darius Labanauskas, least of all Littler himself. But the Lithuanian can certainly be proud of the way he pushed the defending champion, averaging 95 and taking the first two sets to deciding legs."

A pub scene in Finsbury Park signals the return of the World Darts Championship as a festive fixture with colourful pageantry. The event leans on tradition and familiar cliches about set play, pressure and spectacle while fans embrace fancy dress and rituals. Luke Littler practised before his match and secured a 3-0 opening victory over Darius Labanauskas, who averaged 95 and forced deciding legs in early sets. Littler emerges as the clear favourite to win and potentially earn the sport's first £1 million prize. The championship expanded from 96 to 128 players and will move to a larger hall next year after rapid ticket sales.

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