World Darts Championship draw LIVE: Luke Littler could face Fallon Sherrock in huge clash – stream FREE, updates

'Wright needs rest to get back to his best'

Phil Tayor reckons struggling Peter Wright could win another World Championship - if he gets in a good rest!

Wright, the 2020 and 2022 world champion, will face Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto in this year's first round.

All-time great Taylor believes the 54-year-old's fortunes at the Ally Pally this year could come down to how refreshed he is.

The 16-time world champ told : "It depends on what Peter Wright turns up; he has won a title this year.

"Peter has really pushed the boat out over the years; he went to every tournament and was on the road every time.

"He has burnt the candle from both ends a little bit.

"He needs to rest up a little bit now and focus on the Worlds, that’s what he needs to do. He is still capable of winning another World Championship."

Noa-Lynn hopes to face Bully Boy

History-maker Noa-Lynn van Leuven hopes to set up a second-round clash against 2023 world champion Michael Smith.

Van Leuven, 28, will be the first trans competitor ever at the World Championship.

She'll face fellow Dutch star Kevin Doets in her opening match at the Ally Pally next month.

The winner then takes on "Bully Boy" Smith, 34, who still sits second in the PDC rankings.

Despite some trolling, Van Leuven has had plenty of backing.

She said this month: "It's rough going out on the stage but I've got a lot of support".

Could Nuke become first darts player to win SPOTY?

The closest darts came to celebrating BBC Sports Personality of the Year award was 2010.

Phil Taylor, whose 16 world titles included glory in 2009 and 2010, was SPOTY runner-up to Northern Irish jockey AP McCoy 14 years ago.

Littler has won ten titles this year, including the Premier League crown and the Grand Slam of Darts, earning more than £1million in oche prize money.

He is up to fourth in the world rankings and that means he would meet world No.1 Humphries in the semi-finals if both advance.

The BBC are likely to shortlist him for the annual SPOTY award, which the public then vote for.

Littler said: “I don’t know if I will win it or not.

“The BBC will look at the athletes that are running, doing all their stuff, they don’t look too much at the darts.

“I know Phil Taylor finished second one year. Obviously, I’d like to go one step ahead and win it. If not, I will try again next year.”

Ally Pally is perfect time for my fifth nine

Luke Littler dreams of landing his fifth nine-darter of the year at the World Championship.

The Warrington whizkid, 17, said: “Well, I’ve said that when you’re playing that well you can feel it.

“You feel yourself hitting that double 12. There’s a bit of money to be earned if the perfect leg does go in.

“I want to break the record. I need to, I want to try and hit that fifth one of the year.

“It doesn’t have to be me – but I would like it to be.

“If a nine-darter comes with it or the great checkouts, then great. I want to hit the nine for my own sake.”

Littler can make one punter £60k richer...

Luke Littler could face Fallon Sherrock in a sensational Ally Pally showdown – as he tries to make one punter £60,000 richer! writes ROB MAUL.

The Nuke – the 2-1 title favourite – will take on the Queen of the Palace before Christmas if she gets past Suffolk star Ryan Meikle in the first round.

The two throwers have transformed the sport and set history in their own ways over the past five years. Littler, 17, aims to be the youngest world darts champ ever after losing the 2024 final to Luke Humphries.

Qualifier Sherrock, 30, became the first woman to beat men at world level, back in December 2019, and earned the respect of feminist icon Billie Jean King.

If that Box Office clash happens between the tungsten duo, then it will surely split loyalties in the crowd as to who to support.

It was announced on the day of the draw that Paddy Power will splash out £180,000 for every nine-darter hit during the 16-day event, which starts on Sunday December 15.

They will dish out £60,000 to the player that performs the feat, send £60,000 to the Prostate Cancer UK charity and give £60,000 to one FAN who has attended that session.

It is believed a spotlight might pick out the winner in the 3,300-capacity arena – and what a lovely Christmas bonus that would be!

Littler has hit four perfect legs throughout 2024 and one more before December 31 would be a record on the pro circuit.

Will weather stop Humphries being on cloud nine?

Phil Taylor reckons Luke Humphries' HEALTH could be the key to retaining his world title.

The Ally Pally legend told : "It all depends on how he feels.

"It's a funny time of the year as the weather is dropping, the temperature is always cold and you get all of the viruses coming out, the colds, the flu and everything.

"As long as he goes in there all fit and healthy, he’s got every chance of retaining it.

"There’s a lot more to it than just playing darts."

Yule love the hectic schedule...

Starting at the Ally Pally on Sunday December 15, the World Championship is the treble topping on the Christmas cake for darts fans!

Running through to Friday January 3, there's virtually no let-up in oche action over the festive period.

December 15 sees three first-round matches and one second-round clash.

Next comes eight days of live darts.

The only real break is Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.

Then we're back with the third round, including a double session on December 27.

By December 30 all the thi5rd and fourth-round ties will be over.

New Year's Eve is a night off before the quarter-finals on January 1.

The semi-finals are the following day - could that mean Luke Humphries vs Luke Littler.

And on January 3 it's the final.

So... Will it be a Happy Nuke Year?

DRAW BLIMEY

Luke Littler in line to face Fallon Sherrock in PDC World Darts SECOND ROUND

Bottom (fourth quarter) of draw

Michael van Gerwen (3) vs James Hurrell or Jim Long
Brendan Dolan (30) vs Chris Landman or Lok Yin Lee
Gary Anderson (14) vs Jeffrey de Graaf vs Rashad Sweeting
Ross Smith (19) vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida
Dave Chisnall (6) vs Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers
Gabriel Clemens (27) vs Niels Zonneveld or Robert Owen
Dimitri van den Bergh (11) vs William O'Connor or Dylan Slevin
Martin Schindler (22) vs Callan Rydz or Romeo Grbavac

Draw - third quarter

Michael Smith (2) vs Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Krzysztof Ratajski (31) vs Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo
Chris Dobey (15) vs Stephen Burton or Alexander Merkx
Josh Rock (18) vs Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin
Jonny Clayton (7) vs Mickey Mansell or Tomoya Goto
Daryl Gurney (26) vs Florian Hempel or Jeffrey De Zwaan
Gerwyn Price (10) vs Kim Huybrechts or Keane Barry
Joe Culley (23) vs Wessel Nijman or Cameron Carolissen

Ally Pally draw - second quarter

Luke Littler (4) vs Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock
Ritchie Edhouse (29) vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing
Danny Noppert (13) vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas
Ryan Searle (20) vs Mensur Suljovic or Matt Campbell
Rob Cross (5) vs Scott Williams or Niko Springer
Gian van Veen (28) vs Ricardo Pietreczko or Xiaochen Zong
Nathan Aspinall (12) vs Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates
Andrew Gilding (21) vs Martin Lukeman or Nitin Kumar

Recap of the draw

Here's a reminder of how the World Championship draw went.

There's so much to take on and look at - so we'll split into quarters...

Opening quarter:

Luke Humphries (1) vs Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito
Raymond van Barneveld (32) vs Nick Kenny or Stowe Buntz
James Wade (16) vs Jermaine Wattimena or Stefan Bellmont
Peter Wright (17) vs Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto
Stephen Bunting (8) vs Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt
Dirk van Duijvenbode (25) vs Madars Razma or Christian Kist
Damon Heta (9) vs Connor Scutt or Ben Robb
Mike De Decker (24) vs Luke Woodhouse or Lourence Ilagan

Fans upset 2 Lukes are in same half of draw

This afternoon's draw has hyped up darts lovers for the World Championships next month.

But many fans are disappointed Luke Humphries CAN'T meet Luke Littler in a repeat of last year's final.

The two Lukes are far and away the bookies' two favourites for the Ally Pally tournament.

But the draw means they could face in the semi-final - and definitely not the final.

One fan posted: "How are Littler and Humphries in the same half of the draw? Bad planning."

World No 1 Humphries beat Littler, then 16, in the 2024 final in January.

Littler vs Sherrock could 'break the internet'

Oche enthusiasts are hoping Fallon Sherrock topples Ryan Meikle to set up a second-round clash with Luke Littler.

But with the Nuke in blistering form, most fans appear to think he'd win comfortably - whoever he faces this early in the tournament.

One observer posted: "Potentially Luke Littler v Fallon Sherrock and it could actually break the internet. That is f***ing massive."

"The Sky Sports team must be loving it."

And a third wrote: "Some exciting matchups brewing Littler vs. Sherrock could steal the show."

A reminder of the seeding

Luke Littler's potential clash with Fallon Sherrock will dominate the tal.

But there's plenty of other match-ups for oche lovers to get their teeth into.

HOW THEY RANK:
Luke Humphries (1),
Michael Smith (2),
Michael van Gerwen (3),
Luke Littler (4),
Rob Cross (5),
Dave Chisnall (6),
Jonny Clayton (7),
Stephen Bunting (8),
Damon Heta (9),
Gerwyn Price (10),
Dimitri Van den Bergh (11),
Nathan Aspinall (12),
Danny Noppert (13),
Gary Anderson (14),
Chris Dobey (15),
James Wade (16),

REST OF THE SEEDS:
Peter Wright (17), Josh Rock (18), Ross Smith (19), Ryan Searle (20), Andrew Gilding (21), Martin Schindler (22), Joe Cullen (23), Mike De Decker (24), Dirk van Duijvenbode 25), Daryl Gurney (26), Gabriel Clemens (27), Gian van Veen (28), Ritchie Edhouse (29), Brendan Dolan (30), Krzysztof Ratajski (31), Raymond van Barneveld (32)

Littler set for intriguing draw

Luke Littler could face Ally Pally queen Fallon Sherrock in his World Championship opener.

Sherrock must beat Ryan Meikle in the first round to set up a mouthwatering clash with the Nuke.

Dimitri van den bergh vs William O'Connor or Dylan Slevin

Karel Sedlacek vs Rhys Griffin

Gabriel Clemens vs Neils Zonneveld or Robert Owen

Dave Chisnall vs Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers

Ross smith vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida

Stephen Burton vs Alexander Merkx

Gary Anderson vs Jeffrey De Graaf or Rashad Sweeting

Richard Veenstra vs Alexis Toylo

Chris Landman vs Lok Yin Lee