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It’s that time of year again – the PDC World Championships, the showpiece event on the darts calendar. While we’re all still recovering from our festive fun, the players are stepping up to end the sports calendar on a high. The only question, really, is whether anyone can stop Luke Littler?

The Favourites To Win It All

As you might expect, Littler is the clear favourite with the bookies, with odds of 10/11 at Bet365 and 4/5 at Ladbrokes. It’s easy to see why, too – in the last 200 legs of darts played, he ranks #1 on the circuit for averages, doubles, and 171-180 scores. His scoring average of 103.76 is by far and away the best on the circuit, too, with only Luke Humphries (100.44) and Gian Van Veen (100.09) beating a century average in the last 200 legs.

Luke Humphries (4 @ Bet365, 9/2 @ Ladbrokes) is the next favourite, as you would expect. He’s the only player in 2025 who has come close to Littler’s level, though spare a thought for upcoming surprise act Gian van Veen (12 @ Bet365 and Ladbrokes), who has come into imperious form in recent times and looks every bit the player hitting form at just the right time.

After these three, though, you’re looking at two previous champions in Gerwyn Price (14s) and Michael van Gerwen (20 @ Bet365, 16 @ Ladbrokes) as the only other two who could have a realistic shot. It’s darts, though, and someone can always come from nowhere.

MVG has the previous history but his well-publicised personal issues this year has had a negative impact on his overall standing in the game. Still, he’s fifth on the form guide over the last 200 legs, so he has been improving recently.

Price boasts an impressive 41.78% on his Doubles in the last 200 frames, but he’s comfortably at the lowest end of the scale for 171-180 scores in that time, with 60; only Gary Anderson (also 60) has a 171-180 count of under 70 on this list. However, with 23 99 & 101+ checkouts, he’s got the highest figure on the top ten list by far. Is that worth backing? It’s hard to say.

The Potential Outsiders

Recent form means a lot going into the Worlds, and Danny Noppert, with an average of 98.21 and hitting 41.55% of his Doubles, is fourth in the form last over the last 200 frames. He, along with van Veen, reached the 2025 World Cup of Darts semi-finals, so he’s had a pretty good year. However, he hasn’t lifted a major trophy since 2022 – it would be hard to see him come all the way to win here. His odds of 50s at Ladbrokes and Bet365 are evidence enough of his outsider status for this one.

Outside of these players, we’re looking at someone like Nathan Aspinall or Chris Dobbey, perhaps finding form, or one of the old guard like Gary Anderson, to find some of that old magic.

Who Wins It All?

Really? It’s hard to see past Littler. He’s on the easier side of the draw, with very few players on his side of the bracket that are in elite form. Rob Cross and Joe Cullen are the only borderline threats, but even then, his only major threat before the quarters is a potential matchup with the legendary Raymond Van Barneveld.

In the last eight, the standard increases and anything can happen, but it would be tough to see anyone stopping The Nuke from claiming a stunning second PDC World Championship title.