Luke Littler overcomes sluggish start to book World Darts Championship last-16 spot

Two matches, two seemingly comfortable wins and producing his best darts when it matters most. It is a formula that represents a satisfactory start to Luke Littler’s quest for the World Darts Championship, but the blunt truth is that a significant improvement will almost certainly be required to even match last year’s run to the final.

Against an opponent old enough to have defeated his grandfather Phil in local leagues around Runcorn, Littler again initially looked jittery on his return to the Alexandra Palace stage before finally beating Ian White – the 54-year-old world No 57 – by four sets to one.

That, though, only told a part of the story, with Littler surviving a final-leg shoot-out and shots at double for White to have won two of those sets.

Littler’s final average of 97.84 was also the first time in 15 matches that he has dipped below 100 on the PDC tour. That statistic in itself does highlight the extraordinary standards he has set (there have been only five 100-plus averages so far in this year’s entire World Championship) but also underlines how he has seemed decidedly less comfortable than last year.

That is hardly surprising, given the chasm of difference between how Littler arrived last year on darts’ biggest stage as an unknown 16-year-old to now, having since won 10 senior tournaments and rightly being installed as the favourite to become the youngest world champion in his sport’s history.

After the tense start, it was actually a slightly ironic chant for White that seemed to spur Littler into action. Littler, who always seems to revel in the most raucous atmospheres, briefly joined in by dancing to the fans’ chants before narrowly clinching the first set and then moving through the gears. The highlight was the 14, 13 and 12-dart finishes to sweep through the third set.

“It was tough – Ian threw everything at me – I had to stay switched on and the fourth set was massive,” said Littler. “The crowd was good for both me and Ian – if they are chanting his name I am going to hit a 180! I have to improve my doubles but, most importantly, I won.”

Littler will now face “Relentless” Ryan Joyce in the fourth round ahead of a potential semi-final against the defending champion Luke Humphries.

The presence of the best two players this year at the top of the draw has left Michael van Gerwen looming large on the bottom half and the Dutch three-time world champion also moved safely into the last 16 on Saturday night with a 4-2 win against Brendan Dolan.

Littler will return on Monday to face Joyce for a place in the quarter-final, with the highlight on Sunday likely to be the showdown between Humphries and Peter Wright, the defending champion having accused “Snakebite” of trying to play mind games.

11:08 PM GMT

Former BDO world champion Mark Webster on Sky Sports

11:06 PM GMT

Tomorrow’s schedule

Afternoon Session (12.30pm)

Jeffrey de Graaf vs Paolo Nebrida R3

Kevin Doets vs Krzysztof Ratajski (31) R3

Dimitri Van den Bergh (11) vs Callan Rydz R3

Evening Session (7pm)

Ricky Evans vs Robert Owen R3

Jonny Clayton (7) vs Gerwyn Price (10) R4

Luke Humphries (1) vs Peter Wright (17) R4

11:04 PM GMT

Today’s results

Afternoon Session (12.30pm)

Ryan Joyce 4-3 Ryan Searle

Scott Williams 1-4 Ricardo Pietreczko

Nathan Aspinall 4-0 Andrew Gilding

Evening Session (7pm)

Chris Dobey 4-2 vs Josh Rock

Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Brendan Dolan

Luke Littler 4-1 Ian White

11:01 PM GMT

The thoughts of Luke Littler

10:57 PM GMT

Littler into the last-16

Can Littler check out 170 to win the match? He hits treble 20, treble 20 but narrowly misses bullseye for an incredible end to the match. White cannot check out 133, which leaves Littler 25 to win. He hits single five and then lands double ten to win the match 4-1.

He will play Ryan Joyce in the next round. A dozen 180s in the match for Littler. He finishes up with an average of 97.84.

10:54 PM GMT

Littler (3) 2-1* (1) White

Another 180 struck by Littler. His first possible checkout is 140 with White off the pace. Littler will not hit 140 but has 80 to win the leg. Littler misses double 10 but hits double five and is now just one leg away from the next round.

10:53 PM GMT

Littler (3) *1-1 (1) White

Littler fires in a 180 to put the pressure on White. He has 47 to break White’s throw. Littler cannot double 20 or double 10 which gives White the chance of the leg with a checkout of 40 remaining. He gets double 20 to take the leg.

10:50 PM GMT

Littler (3) 1-0* (1) White

Just one set away from the fourth round, Littler has the throw at the start of the set. He has 91 to win the leg with White not on a finish but he cannot hit double tops.

Littler needs double 10 to go 1-0 up in this fifth set but misses. That leaves him double five, which he takes.

10:45 PM GMT

Littler takes the fourth set

Littler is hitting plenty of 180s but White has the higher average at the moment.

White has 110 to claim the set. He hits treble 20, single 10 but misses double tops.

That gives Littler the chance to check out 70 and at the second attempt hits double 20 to win set four. He is 3-1 up and just one set away from the fourth round.

10:42 PM GMT

Littler (2) 2-2* (1) White

White hits a 180 of his own and is in with a great chance of breaking the throw. Despite a 180 for Littler, White has the chance of checking out 60 but misses.

Littler has one dart at tops to close out the set but wastes it.

Over to White for double 10 and he lands it at the second attempt. All to play for for the fourth set.

10:41 PM GMT

Littler (2) *2-1 (1) White

An eighth maximum in the 15th leg for Littler. With Littler having just 35 remaining, White has 120 to win the leg. He has double tops to win it but misses. Littler then has the chance to take the leg by hitting double 10 and, at the second attempt, delivers. On his own throw coming up, Littler will have the chance to win the set.

10:38 PM GMT

Littler (2) 1-1* (1) White

Yet another 180 for Littler, who is storming his way to this leg. He has a chance of 130 with the bullseye finish but, with White not on a finish, he just sets up the finish on his next throw. He has double 20 to win the leg and delivers to make it 1-1 in this fourth set.

10:37 PM GMT

Littler (2) *0-1 (1) White

White is on throw to start the fourth set. Littler lands the 11th 180 of the match between these two.

Can White check out 140? No he cannot so Littler requires 74 to break throw. He just misses double 20, giving White a shot at double tops, which he takes. It feels like White needed that one.

10:35 PM GMT

Littler takes third set

Both players start this leg with 180s. Littler has 88 to claim the third set and, with white needing just 36, the pressure is on.

Littler has to hit the bullseye to win the set and he does so. He now leads 2-1 in the match.

10:33 PM GMT

Littler (1) *2-0 (1) White

Against the throw Littler has a 52 checkout to go 2-0 up in the third set. 12 sets up double tops, which he hits again to go one leg away from taking the third set and he will be on throw.

10:31 PM GMT

Littler (1) 1-0* (1) White

Despite a 180 from White in that leg, Littler has 40 to win the first leg of this third set. Double tops hit first time and Littler is on the board in the third set. Exactly the response he was after.

10:25 PM GMT

White fights back to claim second set

Littler lands another 180 to leave him 72 to win the leg. He has double tops to win but goes too high, leaving White with 51 to close out the set. He misses double 10 and wastes the opportunity.

Littler misses double 20 and double 10 so White has another chance. He hits double five and the second set goes to White. Game well and truly on.

10:23 PM GMT

Littler (1) *1-2 (0) White

Littler leaves himself 114 to win the leg and hits double tops to take it. He will now be on throw and, if he lands the next leg, it will be all to play for in this set.

10:21 PM GMT

Littler (1) 0-2* (0) White

Littler makes his second 180 of the match at the start of the second leg.

White responds later in the leg with a 180 of his own.

Littler needs 125 to win but cannot get it so White requires 86 to go 2-0 up. He hits double 16 and is just one leg away from taking the second set.

10:19 PM GMT

Littler (1) *0-1 (0) White

White has the throw at the start of this second set. He has 72 to win the first leg of the set but misses double tops. Littler has a 140 checkout but only makes 100. White has 20 for the leg and at the second attempt hits double 10.

10:13 PM GMT

Littler wins first set

Littler has 52 to win the first set. He hits 12 and then lands double tops to close out the first set. He was 2-1 down but comes back to win the first set.

10:11 PM GMT

Littler (0) *2-2 (0) White

Ally Pally is serenading Ian White and Littler joins in. The next time he steps up to the oche; he lands his first 180 of the match.

White comes so close to taking the first set as he just misses double tops. Will he regret that?

Yes he will as Littler steps up to land double ten at the second attempt to win the leg. He will be on throw to win the first set.

10:08 PM GMT

Littler (0) 1-2* (0) White

A second maximum of the match for White puts the pressure on Littler, who has 170 to win the third leg but cannot land it. White needs 81 to break throw but he just misses the bullseye.

Littler misses double tops to hand White the chance to win the leg. White misses double four and double two which hands Littler the chance for the leg but he goes bust.

White finally lands double one and breaks throw. He is just one leg away from the first set. Littler got off to a slow start in his second round match.

10:06 PM GMT

Littler (0) *1-1 (0) White

White lands the first 180 of the match. Littler is all over the place in this leg, nowhere near it, which allows White to easily finish with double tops to check out 55. White takes the second leg.

10:04 PM GMT

Littler (0) 1-0* (0) White

The crowd serenade Littler before the match starts with Walking in a Littler Wonderland, which used to be Phil Taylor’s song. Littler will have the throw to start the match.

Littler’s first checkout of the match is 148. He is under no pressure with White not on a finish but he cannot land it. 60 to win the first leg but he cannot do that either. White cannot finish either so eventually Littler hits double seven to win the first leg.

09:59 PM GMT

Walk-ons

Here come the players for the final match of the night.

First to make his way onto the stage is Ian ‘Diamond’ White.

Then it is time for Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler. He is looking pretty relaxed on the stage as he smiles at the crowd.

We are ready for action.

09:40 PM GMT

MVG through

The Dutchman is into the fourth round, overcoming Brendan Dolan 4-2.

Next up is Luke Littler in the final match of the night against Ian White.

09:31 PM GMT

Dolan responds

It looked like MVG was destined to close out the match but Brendan Dolan has fought back to win the fifth set to keep the match alive.

09:20 PM GMT

MVG flying

The fourth set has gone to the Dutchman and he now leads 3-1, one set away from the fourth round.

09:16 PM GMT

MVG update

The Dutchman got off to a slow start, losing the first set to Brendan Dolan, but is now moving through the gears. He is two sets to one up and looks in a good spot to win the fourth set.

09:15 PM GMT

Today’s schedule

Afternoon Session (12.30pm)

Ryan Joyce 4-3 Ryan Searle

Scott Williams 1-4 Ricardo Pietreczko

Nathan Aspinall 4-0 Andrew Gilding

Evening Session (7pm)

Chris Dobey 4-2 vs Josh Rock

Michael van Gerwen 2-1 Brendan Dolan (ongoing)

Luke Littler (4) vs Ian White R3

08:42 PM GMT

Littler back in action

Luke Littler is in round three action at Alexandra Palace tonight as he takes on Ian White for a place in the fourth round. There is a personal link between these players despite the 37-year age difference. 17-year-old Littler’s grandfather played against White in matches between Egerton and Albion, and they were teammates when representing the Cheshire town of Runcorn in local tournaments.

Littler began his quest to go one step better than he did last year by beating Ryan Meikle 3-1 in the second round a week ago. After a slow start in that match, he ended up racing to victory due to an incredible fourth set average of 140.91 and was visibly emotional after the match, even though his progression was expected.

We have seen two nine-darters so far at the World Championships courtesy of Christian Kist and Damon Heta. Littler came so close to a nine-darter of his own in his second round match against Meikle and he wants to secure his fifth nine-darter of the year.

“I watched it [Kist’s nine-darter] at my friend’s house and I’ve not missed a session, apart from the evening when Ryan [Meikle] played Fallon [Sherrock],” said Littler.

“I just looked at my mate and I was like ‘how’s he done that? He was nowhere near last year!’ Just goes to show how well he’s played this year. So fair play to him - he’s going to have a lovely vacation ahead!”

White received a walkover in the first round after Sandro Eric Sosing withdrew through illness and shocked European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse with a 3-1 victory in the next. White is eyeing up a shock against the fourth seed Littler.

“Listen, the lad’s talented and we all know that,” White said. “He has put the darts on the map again. Everyone wants to come to the darts and that’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us.

“But I just want to say that he’s from Runcorn - the same as me - so he’s No 2 and I’m No 1!”

The winner of tonight’s match will face Ryan Joyce in the last-16 and, in theory, we are still set for a potential semi-final encounter between Littler and defending champion Luke Humphries in a repeat of last year’s final.

Stay with us for all the action from Alexandra Palace.