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The darts commentator and former Gamers Championship winner makes his choose to triumph at Alexandra Palace and picks out a possible first-round shock.
Former darts participant Paul Nicholson has made his predictions for the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, which begins on 11 December.
Luke Littler is the favorite within the darts betting to triumph for the second consecutive yr at Alexandra Palace, with Luke Humphries – who beat Littler in 2024 however crashed out within the fourth spherical final yr – the second-favourite.
In our interview, ‘The Asset’ picks his winner, predicts the finalists and selects a vigorous outsider and a possible surprising first spherical exit forward of the event.
Paul, who’s your choose to win the PDC World Championship and why?
I feel lots of people are going to lend a hand. They’re going to go for Luke Littler due to his document in 2025. It’s not simply due to the best way he’s enjoying, it’s due to how he’s peaking for each occasion. Perhaps individuals thought, is he going to have the ability to defend the Grand Slam? He went and did it, and he performed arguably higher than the earlier yr. They mentioned he was weak on the double begin, he wins the World Grand Prix. He’s figuring issues out actually, actually shortly. And he’s already referenced the truth that no person has defended this title since 2016 when Gary Anderson did, and 10 years later, Littler has made it his mission to do it once more. It’s going to be onerous, however I don’t assume anyone’s going to cease him.
Do you see a Luke v Luke remaining, or can somebody surpass Humphries on the underside half of the draw?
Let’s face it. The half of the draw that Humphries has acquired is harder than the one which Littler has, as a result of he’s acquired extra hurdles to go over primarily based on kind, numbers, chance. Gian van Veen has been Humphries bogeyman this yr. So even when he comes by way of a piece of the draw that features the likes of Mike De Decker and different individuals like that, each single hurdle for him goes to be actually, actually troublesome, whereas Littler’s is simply method simpler. There are fewer individuals in Littler’s half who will topple him, whereas in Humphries part, it’s expertise, it’s kind, it’s main winners of 2025. It simply seems like Humphries goes to must go to the properly greater than two or 3 times. However lots of people have spoken too, together with my very own opinions, we nonetheless consider that Humphries will make 3 January to arrange a Luke versus Luke remaining.
May we see a shock package deal who can get by way of to the latter phases of the PDC World Darts Championship?
I feel so. I feel everyone is taking a look at this event like 4 completely different tournaments. Who’s going to win quarter one? Who’s going to win quarter two, three, and 4? Littler is in part one. You’ve acquired Humphries in part three. Then part 4 is its personal little beast. However you take a look at quarter two and also you assume, if that was a event by itself of 32 gamers, you’d wish to watch that, and also you wouldn’t confidently say who’s going to win it, which makes it in all probability the very best quarter to be careful for.
Now, Steven Bunting just isn’t taking this personally from anybody. He simply understands that he hasn’t been superb in his final couple of tournaments, results-wise. And for that cause, the quantity 4 seed just isn’t being fancied by anybody. Everybody’s making an attempt to be a genius in looking for that one one that’s going to make 2 January for the semi-finals and have the very best run of their profession. I haven’t heard anyone tip Steven Bunting but, which is actually, actually bizarre. However I’ve gone for Ryan Searle. I feel he’s somebody who enjoys enjoying at Alexander Palace, particularly when he can take his household with him. And I feel it yearns inside him that he’s able to occurring such a deep run. I’ve been banging the drum for him for a short while. I’m going to keep it up as a result of I’m actually cussed.
Now taking a look at quarter 4 of the PDC World Darts Championship, who comes by way of that to make the semi-finals?
I imply, it’s actually, actually troublesome as a result of it’s Michael van Gerwen’s part. There have been extra query marks on Michael van Gerwen this yr than ever earlier than. So whenever you’re speaking about this part of the draw, there are lots of people that assume that Gary Anderson may come by way of it, and I wouldn’t be shocked in any respect if he did that. However his Alexander Palace kind over the past couple of years hasn’t been as glowing as earlier years. So some individuals assume that he is likely to be not at his peak in relation to this, and one remaining flourish may not be there. I wouldn’t put something past Gary Anderson. However so far as that part is worried, take your choose. MVG goes to must probably undergo Peter Wright and Gary Anderson. And on the backside of the draw you’ve acquired Josh Rock, who everyone thinks goes to have a deep run. His Alexander Palace document isn’t sensible, but it surely doesn’t must be. Luke Littler made the ultimate two years in the past when he hadn’t even performed there earlier than. So, in the very best yr of his profession, the place he’s enjoying the very best darts, masses extra finals on the tour, you need to assume that Josh Rock is primed for one thing, and it may properly be within the new yr.
Lastly, taking a look at this yr’s event, who may very well be a shock early exit?
I feel there are many prospects. I imply, even when you take your self out of the highest 16 on the earth, you take a look at somebody like Luke Woodhouse, who’s had a terrific season. He’s been given Boris Krcmar, who’s genuinely top-of-the-line dart gamers ever to throw a dart. I do know he’s doing it over a number of disciplines with soft-tip and steel-tip, however he’s nonetheless top-of-the-line that’s ever completed it. I feel Luke Woodhouse has been given probably the most horrible draw, however I fear for Michael van Gerwen if he doesn’t get a superb begin. And I hearken to the whole lot he says on the minute, I do know he’s speaking a terrific sport and he’s going to be actually bullish, there’s nothing unsuitable with that, however everyone can discuss a terrific sport. They must go up there and do it, and I actually need Michael to do it, however I do concern that he’s going to have just a few dangerous units. And in the event that they’re timed on the unsuitable instances, he may go early. I suppose him going early wouldn’t be that a lot of a shock. I feel he’s completed actually, very well in holding on to the world No. 3 spot over the course of the season.
However early exits, I feel there are going to be lots. I feel there are going to be a lot of them as a result of I don’t assume quite a lot of these high darts gamers will prepared for among the guys who’re coming into the event and certainly the ladies. So, part 4 has acquired all the ladies in it aside from Fallon Sherrock, I consider. However yeah, I simply can’t wait to get this began as a result of there are going to be loads of ups and downs, and of the highest 32 gamers, I feel eight of them gained’t survive the primary spherical.