LONDON -- Luke Littler will open his World Darts Championship defence against Lithuanian world No. 95 Darius Labanauskas.
Littler discovered his opponent in Monday's draw, less than 24 hours after securing his third straight major at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
While not a daunting draw for the 18-year-old, Labanauskas did hit a world championship nine-darter in a first round defeat to Mike De Decker in 2022.
Elsewhere, Luke Humphries will begin his bid to win a second world championship title against 28-year-old former world youth champion Ted Evetts.
As the top two seeds, Littler and Humphries are unable to meet until the world championship final on Jan. 3.
Women's No. 1 Beau Greaves, 21, was handed a tough-looking draw against world No. 22 Daryl Gurney.
Greaves has not played at the world championship since a first-round defeat to William O'Connor in 2022.
'Beau 'n' Arrow has been biding her time since then, but expectation around her has grown since she defeated Littler in the semifinals of the world youth championship in November.
She fell short against Gian van Veen in Sunday's final but has accepted a PDC Tour Card from next year.
Former world champion Michael Smith, who is looking to return to the form that has deserted him since his 2023 triumph, will take on Lisa Ashton.
- Fan to throw nine darts for £180,000 prize
- Luke Littler darts titles, prize money, career history, more
- Who is Beau Greaves? Darts titles, prize money, career history
Stephen Bunting will take on Sebastian Bialecki, Gerwyn Price Adam will face Adam Gavlas and Michael vs Gerwen will begin his bid to win a fourth title against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami.
Dave Chisnall was drawn against Fallon Sherrock in one of the most intriguing draws of the opening round.
The expanded 128-player field will be competing for a share of the total £5 million prize fund with the winner pocketing a cheque worth an eye-popping £1 million -- double what Littler took home after his victory over Michael van Gerwen in last year's final.
The PDC World Darts Championship will begin on Dec. 11