Luke Littler has emerged as the favorite to secure his first World Darts Championship title at Alexandra Palace, although he faces a tightening timeline to achieve a record-breaking feat that he describes as a ‘frustration.’
The 17-year-old prodigy commenced his tournament with a commendable 3-1 victory over Ryan Meikle, bouncing back from an early setback to register a jaw-dropping 140.91 average in the final set, setting a new benchmark.
During his stellar performance, Littler’s 32-dart set showcased six perfect throws, which included an impressive 11-dart opening leg. He narrowly missed a nine-dart finish in the following leg, failing to hit the D12 that would have marked his fifth nine-darter of the season.
Littler has demonstrated his capability throughout the year, hitting nine-dart legs at various prestigious events, including the Bahrain Darts Masters and the Premier League final. However, he’s faced challenges since then, as he aims to become the first player in PDC history to achieve five nine-darters within a single year.
After his second-round victory against Meikle, Littler expressed his mixed feelings, acknowledging the pressure to land a nine-darter at the World Championship, where a successful attempt will reward a lucky fan in the audience with £60,000. “As soon as you make the switch to treble 19, your eyes light up,” he noted.
Littler’s latest near-miss followed previous attempts during the Grand Slam of Darts, where he fell short on multiple occasions. He candidly reflected on his approach during his match against Meikle, revealing, “I didn’t even consider the 51. The cover shots were fine throughout the game.” He added, “I might have to take a moment to think about the treble 17.”
Could We Witness Another Nine-Darter at the Worlds?
This year’s tournament has seen other players, including Martin Schindler and Damon Heta, miss the chance at a nine-darter after eight perfect darts. Christian Kist, however, ignited excitement by hitting the first nine-darter in his 3-1 defeat against Madars Razma earlier in the tournament.
Kist’s spectacular finish activated a £180,000 bonus under The BIGGER 180 campaign, distributing significant rewards among fans and charity alike.
Littler is now gearing up for a challenging match against Ian White in the third round, a significant step on his path potentially leading to a semi-final showdown with defending champion Luke Humphries. White is looking to shake things up after advancing with a walkover in the first round and a stellar performance against Ritchie Edhouse.
With this year’s championship heating up, fans eagerly await to see if Littler can deliver another extraordinary performance or if White can pull off a surprising upset.
Who will emerge victorious in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Stay tuned to ECNETNews for exclusive coverage of every match until January 3.
