PDC world darts: teenage star Luke Littler powers to historic last-16 place
Luke Littler’s incredible journey at the PDC world darts championship continued as the 16-year-old thrashed Matt Campbell 4-1 to reach the fourth round.
The teenage sensation has taken the Alexandra Palace by storm and wowed an adoring crowd with another superb performance against Canada’s Campbell. Littler advances to the last 16, the youngest player to do so in the tournament’s history and said the sight of his mum in the crowd after the game had brought him to tears.
“I started crying when I saw my mum in the crowd. She was nervous. I said to her, ‘The dream continues’. She said the same thing,” Littler explained. The Cheshire youngster is excited about the prospect of facing his hero, Raymond van Barneveld, in the last 16 if the Dutchman can beat Jim Williams on Friday.
“If Raymond does beat Jim it would be unbelievable to play him, and then win or lose against either of them I’m still happy to come out of the worlds at the last 16, but I would love to go a few more games in,” Littler added. “I will stay in the hotel, chill out tomorrow and see who I play in the next round.”
Littler opened Wednesday’s evening session in style, averaging 97.19 and throwing eight maximums against Campbell. In the night’s other games, two former world champions advanced as Michael van Gerwen cruised to a whitewash win over Richard Veenstra and Michael Smith battled past Latvia’s Madars Razma.
Before the Christmas break, Littler defeated Christian Kist and the UK Open champion, Andrew Gilding, to set up this third-round encounter with Campbell, who had knocked out James Wade in his previous match. The Cheshire youngster made an electric start here, winning the first six legs to roar into a 2-0 lead.
Campbell looked to have a foothold in the third set as he took the first two legs. Littler moved through the gears again, though, to reel off three straight legs and open a 3-0 lead in sets. Littler then missed a match dart to seal a 4-0 whitewash in a rare moment of inaccuracy, which allowed Campbell to get a set on the board.
His opponent quickly hit back, hitting two 100-plus checkouts against the throw including a majestic 164 to secure a famous win. “It’s unbelievable. I only wanted to win one game and I have won three and I have battled through it. I am so happy,” Littler told Sky Sports on stage after his victory.
On the social media storm his performances have created, he said: I just let my darts do the talking, everyone on social media saying, ‘He’s this age’, but I let my darts do the talking. As soon as I won that first game [against Kist], I have just settled.”
After booking his place in the fourth round, Van Gerwen mentioned a lack of the usual “attention” on his performances as Littler dominates headlines. “I wish everyone gives me attention because it is a pleasure, it is something good,” the Dutchman said.
After beating his compatriot Veenstra, who won only four legs in the 4-0 defeat, Van Gerwen added: “When they talk about you it is a good sign, it means you still mean something to the sport.” The three-times world champion will face in-form Stephen Bunting or qualifier Florian Hempel next and believes his best is yet to come.
“I think there is more to get, I feel comfortable and I feel good and I am looking forward,” added Van Gerwen, who averaged 101.39 against Veenstra. “I was pleased with the way I played. It gave me confidence, that is the way you want to do things.”
It was a far tougher evening for Smith, who lost the first set to Razma before finding an extra gear to win 4-2 and book a last-16 clash with Ross Smith or Chris Dobey. “Bully Boy” has struggled to find top form since his maiden title, but did enough to turn the game around here and almost finished the match with a nine-dart leg.
After scrapping to lead 2-1 in sets, Smith punished Razma for a missed opportunity to draw level in sets to open a 3-1 lead, and then broke his opponent’s throw to go 2-1 up in the fifth. The No 1 seed then hit six perfect darts but could not find a finishing flourish as he ended the game with an average of 94.01 to Razma’s 87.66.
“It wasn’t the best performance but I managed to battle on and get over the line in the end,” Smith said afterwards. “I’m not happy with the performance, but I’m happy to be in the next round, and hopefully I can find my A-game for the rest of the tournament.”