Littler, 18, goes into the tournament as favourite off the back of winning six major finals in 2025.
Luke Humphries, Littler’s predecessor as both world champion and world number one, faced Littler in three finals this year and is the current world number two.
World number three Van Gerwen is also in the mix, looking to avenge last year’s final defeat and add to his three world titles, with his last coming in 2019.
Young players looking for a big run at the World Championship include Josh Rock and Gian van Veen, whose respective form has seen them both enter the world’s top 12.
Beau Greaves topped the Women’s Series and faces Daryl Gurney first as she looks to become the only female player after fellow qualifier Fallon Sherrock – who won twice at the 2019 event – to triumph at the tournament.
