Daryl Gurney Faces Beau Greaves in PDC World Championship Showdown

Daryl Gurney will face off against rising star Beau Greaves in a highly anticipated match at the PDC World Darts Championship. The draw for the tournament, held on Monday, sets the stage for this intriguing encounter at Alexandra Palace. Gurney, seeded 22, is a seasoned competitor, having reached the quarter-finals twice in past tournaments.

Beau Greaves, at just 21 years old, has emerged as a dominant force in women’s darts. She notably defeated world number one Luke Littler to reach the PDC World Youth Championship final this year. With an impressive tally of 44 titles, including 16 in 2025 alone, Greaves is recognized for her remarkable talent and determination.

The championship will also see Luke Littler begin his title defense against Darius Labanauskas from Lithuania. Since capturing the championship last year, Littler has solidified his status as a top player by winning prestigious events like the UK Open and the World Grand Prix. The 18-year-old prodigy has climbed to the top of the rankings, overtaking Luke Humphries to become world number one.

Antrim’s Josh Rock, seeded 11th, is another player to watch. He will compete against two-time PDC Women’s Series winner Gemma Hayter in the first round. Rock, 24, has had a consistent season and aims to improve upon his best finish of reaching the last 16 in 2023.

In the same section of the draw as Littler, Carlow’s Steve Lennon will need to be in top form to overcome Australian Damon Heta. Lennon, 31, has previously reached the last 32 at Alexandra Palace in 2022. Similarly, Meath’s Keane Barry will meet Tim Pusey in the opening round. Barry, 23, is participating in his seventh championship but has yet to advance past the second round.

Limerick’s William O’Connor is also set to compete in his ninth World Championship, facing Polish qualifier Krzysztof Kciuk. Fermanagh’s Brendan Dolan, a two-time quarter-finalist, will take on English qualifier Tavis Dudeney in what promises to be a thrilling match-up.

Among the tournament favorites, Luke Humphries is set to compete against Ted Evetts, while Michael van Gerwen will open his campaign against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami. The tournament will kick off on Thursday, December 11, 2026, at Alexandra Palace in London, culminating with the final on Saturday, January 3, 2027.

The complete list of first-round matches includes key pairings such as:

– Luke Littler vs. Darius Labanauskas
– Mario Vandenbogaerde vs. David Davies
– Damon Heta vs. Steve Lennon
– Michael Smith vs. Lisa Ashton

As the excitement builds for the PDC World Championship, all eyes will be on Gurney and Greaves as they look to make their mark in this prestigious event.