Luke Littler advances to the fourth round of the World Darts Championship, defeating Ian White 4-1 at Alexandra Palace. The pre-tournament favorite navigated a challenging opening set but dropped the second to White, who had chance opportunities that could have led to an upset. Littler showcased his talent by quickly clinching the third set in just 39 darts and capitalizing on a missed set dart from White with a 70 checkout in the fourth. He then broke White’s throw in the fifth set, finishing with a swift 14-darter.
Littler achieved a remarkable average of 97.84 and hit 12 maximums, maintaining composure in contrast to his emotionally charged second-round victory over Ryan Meikle. He will face Ryan Joyce in the last 16 on Monday.
MVG Overcomes Dolan as Dobey Advances
Michael van Gerwen faced a spirited Brendan Dolan, initially leading the match before a brief setback. Despite missing several double attempts, Van Gerwen regained focus and executed a stunning 129 checkout, sealing the second set. He dominated thereafter, winning eight consecutive legs, which included a brilliant 149 checkout in the fourth set. A late surge by Dolan, who executed a spectacular 123 finish, highlighted the intensity of the match, but Van Gerwen secured his progression by holding his throw.
Van Gerwen commented on the match’s challenges, expressing relief in finally hitting his doubles to conclude the tie.
Dobey’s Comeback Victory
Chris Dobey staged an impressive resurgence against Josh Rock, coming back from 2-1 down to secure a 4-2 win and book a last-16 encounter against either Kevin Doets or Krzysztof Ratajski. Dobey demonstrated skill and resilience, finishing the match with a double-double checkout to clinch victory.
Aspinall Shines in Round-Up
Nathan Aspinall reached the last 16 for the first time in five years, defeating Andrew Gilding with a commanding 4-0 performance. Aspinall achieved a solid average of 92.17, demonstrating precise finishing techniques that have eluded him in the past. He praised his recent form, noting the difference in his finishing abilities during this tournament.
In another highlight of the session, Ricardo Pietreczko continued to impress by eliminating last year’s semi-finalist Scott Williams with a convincing 4-1 victory. The other match saw Ryan Joyce narrowly secure his spot in the fourth round by overcoming Ryan Searle in a thrilling final-set decider.
Joyce reflected on the tough match, expressing satisfaction in pulling through despite the pressure.
What’s Next?
The final matches of the third round are set to conclude on Sunday, with Dimitri van den Bergh taking center stage against Callan Rydz. The evening session will see Ricky Evans face Robert Owen in the last last-32 match before the fourth round kicks off with a highly anticipated matchup between Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price. The defending champion Luke Humphries will also compete in a key match later that evening, with additional fourth-round matches taking place on Monday ahead of the quarter-finals, scheduled for New Year’s Day.
Who will emerge victorious in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Stay tuned for live broadcasts until January 3.
