World Darts Tournament Tips: Price can go all the way and the best bets from Round One

• World number one Luke Littler 10/111.91 to defend his world title

• Abi fancies former winner Gerwyn Price to go all the way

• Tournament preview and the best bets for the first round action

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Defending champ Littler is the man to beat

After another astonishing year on the professional circuit, Luke Littler returns to Ally Pally looking to become just the fourth player in history to successfully defend the PDC World Championship title.

In a year where the teenage sensation has become the youngest ever world number one and world champion as well as claiming a further five major titles, it's proving increasingly difficult to challenge and stop him in his tracks. The Nuke is 10/111.91 to go back-to-back and lift the trophy once again on 3 January.

There have been many aspects of Littler's game that deserve to be lauded and met with high praise, including his ability to overturn sizable deficits with relative ease, in a manner that the great Phil Taylor was able to. It's yet another impressive attribute as he continues to show maturity and calmness in pressurised situations, way beyond his years.

While I believe he will get the better of Darius Labanauskas, Lucky D has been playing well this season and I think he'll be good to take a set. Over 3.5 sets at 7/24.50 is a terrific price.

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Price is right for Gerwyn

Given how this year has unfolded, the two Lukes (Littler and Humphries) meeting in the final of this year's World Championship is understandably the most favoured outcome at 3/14.00, however, I believe there are a number of players who could prevent that from happening.

Gerwyn Price has picked up six titles in 2025, granted none of those wins have come in a big TV tournament but his form has been mightily impressive and despite being in Littler's quarter of the draw, I think there is value in backing him for the title at 16/117.00.

Since making noticeable changes at the start of the campaign, with a far more positive outlook, he has appeared upbeat and is clearly enjoying playing again.

One of the main concerns is that he has, at times, been guilty of looking a little subdued in matches. On a number of occasions he has found himself in promising situations in the latter stages of major tournaments but allowed opponents off the hook or squandered a healthy advantage, like at the World Grand Prix in October.

Yes, Littler has won their last seven matches against each other but of all the players on the planet capable of challenging Littler over a longer format, producing a high enough level over a sustained period, the Welshman is certainly one and I feel, given the numbers he's produced this year and his change in demeanor, it would be fitting for him to go all the way at Ally Pally for the second time in his career.

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Quarter of Opportunity

The second quarter of this year's draw is one of great opportunity.

With Stephen Bunting suffering early exits in every major this year after reaching the quarter-finals of the World Masters, Jonny Clayton going off the boil somewhat after a spellbinding start to 2025 on TV, question marks over whether Martin Schindler can consistently produce his Pro Tour form on the big stage and Dave Chisnall having a torrid time of late, it's going to be fascinating to see who rises above the parapet and takes this section by the scruff of the neck.

Michael Smith made a positive and encouraging return to the bigtime in Wolverhampton last month. At times reminding us of how effortless he can make the game look and also digging deep when that freeflowing action wasn't working as effectively as he'd have liked but whether his injuries allow him to build on that outing in London remains to be seen.

If The Ferret (Clayton) can recapture the form that saw him finish runner-up at the World Masters and semi-finals at the UK Open, Matchplay and Grand Prix, then his chances of a career best run in this tournament are enhanced and he could well achieve what he set out to at the start of the season, forcing his way back into the Premier League for 2026.

The Welsh number one is 5/16.00 to make the semi-finals.

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Humphries to handle challenge

If Luke Humphries is to get his hands on the Sid Waddell trophy for a second time, he's going to have to do it the hard way.

There are a number of incredibly dangerous contenders in the third quarter of the draw, it's absolute filth. World Youth and European Champion Gian van Veen will be fancied by many, as will Nathan Aspinall, Wessel Nijman and one of the most successful players in PDC history in James Wade who's proven time and time again that he can't be discounted in tournaments but I believe Cool Hand will have enough to advance.

He's been saying the right things in the build up to the World Championship and despite having a lot of money to defend, pressure on his shoulders and being usurped by Littler at the top of the rankings recently, he's still enjoyed a campaign that is not to be sniffed at.

Humphries is odds-on at 10/111.91 to reach the semi-finals.

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Manby is one to watch

While I'm not saying for a second he comes through the quarter, someone to keep across in terms of individual match betting is Charlie Manby.

The youngster is known for his explosive style, eye-catching averages and confident demeanor and I have no doubts that he is going to take to this occasion, his first World Championship appearance, in his stride. He has already beaten the likes of Andrew Gilding and Rob Cross on the floor, pushed Dirk van Duijvenbode all the way and missed a dart at the bull to knock Luke Littler out of the World Youth Championship earlier this year.

I think he will cause Cameron Menzies all sorts of bother on Monday and I'm backing him to come through at 5/42.25.

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The Freeze in fine form

Danny Noppert is another player who I'm backing to do well at Ally Pally this year. Despite him never previously making it past the Last 32, his form coming into this tournament is unquestionable.

I continue to harp back to a game he played on the Euro Tour as the moment I sat up and took note of this new, heavy hitting Noppert, where he blew Mike de Decker away. 

That was at the Baltic Sea Darts Open back in July and since then, his scoring power has been sensational with numbers rivalling the two Lukes when it comes to 180s being hit.

The Dutchman has long been known for his unwavering consistency and finishing prowess but with the scoring power to coincide, I think this could be a fruitful campaign for the current world number six, who surely can't keep going under the radar and being underrated by the masses for too much longer! He can be backed at 5/16.00 to win Quarter Four.

Other favourites lurking in this section of the draw include World Cup winner and former World Youth Champion Josh Rock at 9/43.25 as well as the unpredictable and these days often unreliable Michael van Gerwen at 5/23.50.

Beau Greaves is also in this section, a tough opening assignment awaits the greatest female player of all time as she takes on Daryl Gurney.

While the draw was certainly not kind to the 46 time Women's Series winner, it's a winnable contest though I think making her the odds on favourite at 4/61.67 to come through puts me off backing her.

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