Luke Littler remains favourite to claim a maiden World Darts Championship title at the Alexandra Palace, although time is running out for him to set a record that is becoming a ‘frustration’.
The teenage sensation and last year’s runner-up began his campaign with a 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle, where he recovered from a slow start to fire a record-breaking 140.91 average in the fourth and final set.
Littler’s 32-dart set included six perfect throws on his way to an 11-dart opening leg, before he went agonisingly close to a nine-dart finish in the next, missing the D12 for what would have been his fifth nine-darter of his breakthrough campaign.
The 17-year-old posted nine-dart legs at the Bahrain Darts Masters, Players Championship 1, the Belgian Darts Open and the Premier League final in 2024, although has missed multiple since as he seeks to become the first player in PDC history to make five nine-darters in a year.
“It’s definitely becoming a frustration in a good way,” Littler admitted after his second-round win over Meikle, where there was the added pressure of knowing a nine-darter at the Worlds will result in a fan in the Ally Pally crowd winning £60,000. “Obviously, as soon as you make the switch to the treble 19, your eyes light up.
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Luke Littler reflected on his 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle in his World Championship Darts opener
“I heard the camera pan around to the winner, so I’m sorry whoever you are! I’ll try again.”
His latest near-miss follows failed nine-darter attempts with the last dart against both Lourence Ilagan and Jermaine Wattimena on his run to Grand Slam of Darts victory in November – his 10th PDC title of the year.
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Luke Littler came agonisingly close to a sensational nine-darter against Jermaine Wattimena during the quarter final of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton
Littler told reporters in Wolverhampton last month that he was considering alternative ways to close out a leg after opening with six perfect darts, although said that wasn’t a thought during his effort against Meikle.
“I didn’t even think about the 51,” Littler admitted. “Throughout the game, the cover shots were OK.
“I left 265 a few times and hit the treble 19 well, but I might have to take a moment to think about the treble 17.”
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Will we see another nine-darter at the Worlds?
Martin Schindler and Damon Heta have also fallen short after eight perfect darts in a leg during this year’s World Championship, while Christian Kist produced the first nine-darter in his 3-1 defeat against Madars Razma on December 18.
Kist triggered the Paddy Power £180,000 bonus in The BIGGER 180 campaign with his stunning perfect leg, with the Dutchman earning £60,000, charity partner Prostate Cancer UK receiving the same amount and the remaining £60,000 going to a lucky random fan.
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Christian Kist finds the first perfect leg of darts to take the first set in his match against Madars Razma
“I watched it at my friend’s house and I’ve not missed a session, apart from the evening when Ryan [Meikle] played Fallon [Sherrock],” added Littler, who beat Kist on his way to last year’s final on debut.
“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!”
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Watch every nine-darter hit at the PDC World Championship, with Christian Kist the latest to fire a perfect leg on the Alexandra Palace stage
Can White shock ‘The Nuke’ at Alexandra Palace?
Littler remains on a collision course to meet defending champion Luke Humphries in the semi-finals, with his next challenge coming up against Ian White in the third round on Saturday – the winner then facing either Ryan Joyce or Ryan Searle in the last-16.
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, with ‘Diamond’ now targeting a famous Alexandra Palace upset.
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Ian White says he is ready to upset ‘Runcorn’s No 2’ Luke Littler, in round three of the World Darts Championship
“Listen, the lad’s talented and we all know that,” White said ahead of the meeting. “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!”
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