Luke Littler favored to defend World Matchplay title in Blackpool

Luke Littler enters the 2026 World Matchplay in Blackpool as the odds‑on favourite. The English darts star, who won the 2025 tournament, has claimed every major title so far in 2026 and is winning roughly 80% of his matches against the sport’s elite. His recent performance averages around 100 points, with a season‑high of 101.52 and a first‑nine average of 111.67, while his checkout percentage stands at about 40%. Littler says a victory secures his place on the 2026 Pro Tour and allows him to defend the £60,000 prize he earned at Minehead in November 2024.

Other English contenders include James Wade, Dave Chisnall and Ryan Joyce, but the field is widely regarded as one of the hardest to qualify for, demanding consistently high scoring. The tournament’s outcome will affect player rankings, tour eligibility and prize money distribution within professional darts.

Littler’s back‑to‑back ambitions hinge on maintaining his scoring rhythm and improving his checkout efficiency, which has slipped from 63% in 2025 to just over 40% this year.