Luke Littler edges through to the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship after nervy deciding-set win over Ryan Joyce - as he keeps alive his dream of becoming the sport's youngest-ever champion
- Luke Littler was pushed all the way by Ryan Joyce in their last-16 clash
- He finally overcame his fellow Englishman to move into the quarter-finals
- Littler will face Nathan Aspinall in the last eight on New Year's Day
Luke Littler ended his remarkable 2024 by surviving a huge scare and securing his place in the World Championship quarter-finals after beating Ryan Joyce 4-3 in a thriller on Monday night.
‘I thought I went into 10th gear at one point there,’ said Littler. ‘I wouldn’t say I was nervous, it was just adrenaline,’ added the 17-year-old.
The likes of Kyle Walker and Aaron Ramsdale were at the Ally Pally to witness the tournament favourite in action and he held his nerve in a gruelling battle to set up an all-English clash on New Year’s Day against Nathan Aspinall for a place in the last four.
Littler breezed through the first set but despite averaging 104 in the second set, 39-year-old Joyce broke him three times, winning the deciding leg with a brutal 116 checkout.
Littler hit back with a ruthless third set, where he averaged 108 but Joyce levelled in the fourth, even though Littler averaged 102, with a solid 86 finish.
Joyce began the fifth set with a 117 checkout but Littler turned up the gears and let off a huge roar as he took a 3-2 lead.
Luke Littler held his nerve to book his place in the quarter-finals of the World Championship
Littler was pushed all the way by Ryan Joyce before finally prevailing in a deciding set
Littler will face Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals on New Year's Day
Littler missed a match dart in the sixth and Joyce lived up to his ‘Relentless’ nickname by punishing him and levelling again.
But Littler showed his class in the deciding set, starting off with six perfect darts and finishing the leg with an average of 111 and a match average of 103.
Either Stephen Bunting or Peter Wright await Littler or Aspinall in the semi-final.
Bunting thrashed Luke Woodhouse 4-0 in the first game of the evening session last night and set up a blockbuster quarter-final tie against two-time world champion Wright, who knocked out world number one Luke Humphries on Sunday.
On the other side of the draw, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen delivered a statement display, averaging 101.98 as he defeated Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2.
The Dutchman will face Newcastle born Callan Rydz while Chris Dobey, also from Newcastle, faces former world champion Gerywn Price.
All four ties take place on New Year's Day, before the semi-finals on Thursday and the final on Friday.
