A tearful Luke Littler hit a tournament record 140.91 set
average as he started his bid for the PDC World Championship title with a
dramatic 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle.
The 17-year-old made headlines around the world when he
reached the tournament final in January, where he lost to Luke Humphries.
Starting this campaign on Saturday, Littler was millimetres
away from a nine-darter when he missed double 12 as he blew Meikle away in the
fourth and final set of the second-round match.
Littler was overcome with emotion at the end, cutting short
his on-stage interview.
"It was probably the toughest game I've ever played. I
had to fight until the end," he said later in a news conference.
"As soon as the question came on stage and then boom,
the tears came. It was just a bit too much to speak on stage.
"It is the worst game I have played. I have never felt
anything like that tonight."
Admitting to nerves during the match, he told Sky Sports:
"Yes, probably the biggest time it's hit me. Coming into it I was fine,
but as soon as [referee] George Noble said game on, I couldn't throw
them."
Littler started slowly against Meikle, who had two darts for
the opening set, but he took the lead by twice hitting double 20.
Meikle did not look overawed against his fellow Englishman
and levelled, but Littler took the third set and exploded into life in the
fourth.
The tournament favourite hit four maximum 180s as he took
three straight legs in 11, 10 and 11 darts for a record set average, and 100.85
overall.
Two seeds crashed out on Saturday night – five-time world
champion Raymond van Barneveld lost to Welshman Nick Kenny, while England's
Ryan Joyce beat Danny Noppert.
Australian Damon Heta was another to narrowly miss out on a
nine-darter, just failing on double 12 when throwing for the match in a 3-1 win
over Connor
Littler makes winning return
Littler returned to Alexandra Palace to a boisterous
reception from more than 3,000 spectators and delivered an astonishing display
in the fourth set.
He was on for a maximum after his opening two throws in both
of the first two legs and completed the set in 32 darts - the minimum possible
is 27.
The teenager will next play after Christmas against European
Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse, the 29th seed, or Ian White, and is seeded
to meet Humphries in the semi-finals.
Having entered last year's event ranked 164, the teenager is
up to four in the world and will go to number two if he reaches the final again
this time.
He has won 10 titles in his debut professional year,
including the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts.
After reaching the World Championship final as a debutant
aged just 16, Littler's life has been transformed and interest in darts has
rocketed,
Google say he was the most searched-for athlete online in
the UK during 2024.
This Christmas, more than 100,000 children are expected to
be opening Littler-branded magnetic dartboards as presents.
His impact has helped double the number of junior academies
and has prompted plans to expand the World Championship.
Littler was named OceanNewsUK Young Sports Personality of the Year
on Tuesday and was runner-up to athlete Keely Hodgkinson in the main award.
Van Barneveld knocked out by Kenny
Barneveld was shocked 3-1 by world number 76 Kenny, who was
in tears after a famous victory.
Kenny, 32, will face Humphries in round three after
defeating the Dutchman, who won the BDO version four times and the PDC crown in
2007.
Van Barneveld, ranked 32, became the sixth seed to exit in
the second round.
His compatriot Noppert, the 13th seed, was stunned 2-1 by
Joyce, who will face Ryan Searle or Matt Campbell next, with the winner of that
tie potentially meeting Littler in the last 16.
Fifteenth seed Chris Dobey booked his place in the third
round with a 3-1 win over Alexander Merkx.
Englishman Dobey concluded an afternoon session which
started with a trio of 3-0 scorelines. Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan beat
Lok Yin Lee to set up a meeting with Michael van Gerwen after Christmas.
In the final two first-round matches of the 2025
competition, Wales' Rhys Griffin beat Karel Sedlacek of the Czech Republic
before Asia number one Alexis Toylo was victorious over Richard Veenstra.
