PDC World Darts Championship Day 1 picks: Luke Littler vs. Darius Labanauskas prediction
The PDC World Darts Championship gets underway on Thursday afternoon (2 p.m. ET on Peacock), and the card for Day 1 is poised for drama.
Not only will darts fans get to watch Luke Littler in his first match on the Alexandra Palace stage since he lifted the trophy as a 17-year-old last January, but they’ll also be able to enjoy a showdown between 2023 World Champion Michael “Bully Boy” Smith and Lisa “The Lancashire Rose” Ashton.
We break down the card and pluck out some best bets below:
Luke Littler vs. Darius Labanauskas odds, prediction
Littler is the odds-on favorite to win the tournament, so it’s not a shock to see him at an ungodly price of -8000 for this match, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have some issues with Darius Labanauskas.
While Labanauskas does not come close to matching Littler in the talent department, the Lithuanian can level the playing field with his craft. A slow, experienced player, “Lucky D,” will know when to press the pace and when to slow it down, allowing the crowd to get involved.
In addition to his guile, Labanauskas also has the tendency to run white hot for stretches during a game, which is a useful skill in set-play format. Hitting your rhythm at the right time is critical when you’re racing to three sets.
Littler rarely gets put off his rhythm, and he’s already proven to be unbothered by pressure and expectations, but I do think that Labanauskas will make him sweat a little.
You can get +550 on Labanauskas to win at least one set. I think that’s worth a play.
The Play: Darius Labanauskas +2.5 sets (+550, DraftKings)
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Michael Smith vs. Lisa Ashton odds, prediction
Michael “Bully Boy” Smith reached the summit of the sport with his triumph at the 2023 World Championship, but he’s been uninspiring since. Smith still can hit a high ceiling, but he’s been plagued by inconsistency, and will face a tricky test on Thursday.
This is Lisa Ashton’s fifth trip to the PDC World Darts Championship, and although she’s yet to win a match, she’ll know what to expect on the Ally Pally Stage.
“The Rose of Lancashire” will have the crowd behind her, which could unsettle Smith for stretches of this match.
Ashton likely won’t have enough to pull the stunner, but she can nick a set in this tilt.
The Play: Lisa Ashton +2.5 sets (+150, DraftKings)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
