LONDON -- After another year of ups, downs and in-betweens, the darting world has descended on Alexandra Palace for another dose of world championship drama.
After capturing his first title in January, Luke Littler is looking to become the first man to go back-to-back since Gary Anderson defended his crown 10 years ago. He came through a tough test against Darius Labanauskas to book his place in the second round.
Former champion Michael Smith made no mistake in his meeting with four-time women's champion Lisa Ashton as 'Bully Boy' moved through the gears after a slow start to book his place in the second round.
There were also wins for Arno Merk and Madars Razma.
Thursday's results:
Kim Huybrechts 1 - 3 Arno Merk
(28) Michael Smith 3 - 0 Lisa Ashton
(1) Luke Littler 3 - 0 Darius Labanauskas
Madars Razma 3 - 1 Jamai van den Herik
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The world championship seems to get bigger every year and this one is no different. An expanded 128-player field is competing for a share of the £5 million total prize pot from which the winner will take home an eye-popping £1 million -- double the amount won by Littler last year.
Five women will stand behind the oche over the course of the first round but Ashton, who was first up, was no match for Smith.
Littler is the red-hot favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy come Jan. 3, followed by Luke Humphries and relative newcomer Gian van Veen.