Luke Littler wins again, as teenager reaches World Darts Championship fourth round
He averaged more than 97 per dart, threw eight maximum 180s and produced three 100-plus checkouts, including a majestic 164 in the fifth set.
Thursday 28 December 2023 14:27, UK
Luke Littler has become the youngest player to reach the fourth round of the World Darts Championship in his first appearance at the tournament.
The 16-year-old from Warrington beat Canadian Matt Campbell four sets to one at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday.
He could face his hero, former champion Raymond van Barneveld, in the next round.
Littler, who won the World Youth Championship in November, had already beaten Christian Kist and reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding on his debut in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) event.
Already a favourite with the vocal crowd, the teenager was serenaded with chants of "you've got school in the morning".
He raced through the first two sets without losing a leg and, after losing the fourth, took the fifth to reach the next round.
Littler hugged his mum tearfully after the game, admitting he "started crying when I saw my mum in the crowd. She was nervous. I said to her, 'The dream continues'. She said the same thing."
He said he plans to do some shopping on his day off.
"I will stay in the hotel, chill out tomorrow, treat myself to more shoes and pants, chill out and see who I play in the next round," he said.
"I've got nothing to lose for myself, I've over-achieved again. Now I can just settle. I'm still happy to come out at the last 16, but I would love to go a few more games in.
"I only wanted to win one game and I've won three. I just let my darts do the talking."
Littler's form defies his tender age.
He averaged more than 97 per dart, threw eight maximum 180s and produced three 100-plus checkouts, including a majestic 164 in the fifth set.
The teenager returned home for Christmas and said he sacrificed time on his Xbox after dinner in order to practise.