Luke Littler, a 17-year-old darts sensation, celebrated a stunning 3-1 victory over Ryan Meikle in his debut at the Darts World Championship. Despite initial struggles, Littler showcased his talent by breaking records and nearly achieving a perfect game. He averaged an impressive 140.91 points in the fourth set, leaving him emotional post-match. As the tournament progresses, he is among the favorites, with a potential rematch against defending champion Luke Humphries looming. Other notable competitors include Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen.
Luke Littler’s Triumph at the Darts World Championship
In a thrilling start to the Darts World Championship, 17-year-old English darts prodigy Luke Littler marked his debut with a remarkable 3-1 victory over Ryan Meikle. Despite some early jitters, Littler managed to showcase his immense talent, breaking records along the way and coming tantalizingly close to achieving a perfect game.
A Rollercoaster Match
As Littler took to the stage, the pressure of performing at such a prestigious event was palpable. Initially, he struggled to find his rhythm, but fortune smiled upon him as he clinched the first set. However, Meikle responded fiercely, taking the second set and leaving Littler feeling frustrated at the missed opportunity to take an early lead.
After the break, ‘The Nuke’ returned with renewed vigor, reminiscent of his impressive run to the finals the previous year. Littler won the third set decisively and then delivered an astonishing performance in the fourth set, achieving a series of legs in just 11, 10, and 11 darts. He nearly completed a nine-darter—darts’ equivalent of a hole-in-one—but his final dart at double 12 hit the wire instead.
The fourth set was historic, with Littler averaging an incredible 140.91 points per shot, setting a new standard for excellence at the World Championship.
Following his extraordinary performance, Littler was visibly emotional, shedding tears of joy as he celebrated with his family in the audience. “That was really the hardest game I’ve ever played,” he admitted in a post-match interview, reflecting on the intense pressure he faced. “I don’t know where I got the last set from.”
As the tournament progresses, Littler is set to continue his journey after Christmas, with his next opponent to be determined from the upcoming match between Ritchie Edhouse and Ian White. The young star is among the favorites to lift the championship trophy, alongside defending champion Luke Humphries. A potential rematch of last year’s final could take place as early as the semifinals.
In addition to Littler and Humphries, two-time world champion Gary Anderson will also be competing in the tournament. Anderson is poised to face Swedish player Jeffrey de Graaf, while another title contender, Michael van Gerwen, remains a significant threat after his convincing opening match victory.
Martin Schindler aims to make his mark in the championship as well, seeking to reach the round of 16 for the first time. With two victories needed, Schindler is favored to win his upcoming match against Callan Rydz, whom he has a strong record against. Other German hopes rest on Ricardo Pietreczko and Florian Hempel, who will compete later in the tournament.