Luke Littler eased past Ian White but will need to improve to have a chance of winning his first world title – Getty Images/James Fearn
Two matches, two seemingly comfortable wins and producing his best darts when it matters most. It is a formula that represents a satisfactory start to Luke Littler’s quest for the World Darts Championship, but the blunt truth is that a significant improvement will almost certainly be required to even match last year’s run to the final.
Against an opponent old enough to have defeated his grandfather Phil in local leagues around Runcorn, Littler again initially looked jittery on his return to the Alexandra Palace stage before finally beating Ian White – the 54-year-old world No 57 – by four sets to one.
That, though, only told a part of the story, with Littler surviving a final-leg shoot-out and shots at double for White to have won two of those sets.
Littler’s final average of 97.84 was also the first time in 15 matches that he has dipped below 100 on the PDC tour. That statistic in itself does highlight the extraordinary standards he has set (there have been only five 100-plus averages so far in this year’s entire World Championship) but also underlines how he has seemed decidedly less comfortable than last year.
That is hardly surprising, given the chasm of difference between how Littler arrived last year on darts’ biggest stage as an unknown 16-year-old to now, having since won 10 senior tournaments and rightly being installed as the favourite to become the youngest world champion in his sport’s history.
After the tense start, it was actually a slightly ironic chant for White that seemed to spur Littler into action. Littler, who always seems to revel in the most raucous atmospheres, briefly joined in by dancing to the fans’ chants before narrowly clinching the first set and then moving through the gears. The highlight was the 14, 13 and 12-dart finishes to sweep through the third set.
“It was tough – Ian threw everything at me – I had to stay switched on and the fourth set was massive,” said Littler. “The crowd was good for both me and Ian – if they are chanting his name I am going to hit a 180! I have to improve my doubles but, most importantly, I won.”
Littler will now face “Relentless” Ryan Joyce in the fourth round ahead of a potential semi-final against the defending champion Luke Humphries.
The presence of the best two players this year at the top of the draw has left Michael van Gerwen looming large on the bottom half and the Dutch three-time world champion also moved safely into the last 16 on Saturday night with a 4-2 win against Brendan Dolan.
Littler will return on Monday to face Joyce for a place in the quarter-final, with the highlight on Sunday likely to be the showdown between Humphries and Peter Wright, the defending champion having accused “Snakebite” of trying to play mind games.
11:08 PM GMT
Former BDO world champion Mark Webster on Sky Sports
“We can focus on Luke Littler not being at his best but give credit to Ian White and the way he played. It is the standard that he is at when he finishes with almost a 98 average – because he has set standards.
“Sometimes when you want to win a title you have got to scrap away.”
11:06 PM GMT
Tomorrow’s schedule
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Jeffrey de Graaf vs Paolo Nebrida R3
Kevin Doets vs Krzysztof Ratajski (31) R3
Dimitri Van den Bergh (11) vs Callan Rydz R3
Evening Session (7pm)
Ricky Evans vs Robert Owen R3
Jonny Clayton (7) vs Gerwyn Price (10) R4
Luke Humphries (1) vs Peter Wright (17) R4
11:04 PM GMT
Today’s results
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Ryan Joyce 4-3 Ryan Searle
Scott Williams 1-4 Ricardo Pietreczko
Nathan Aspinall 4-0 Andrew Gilding
Evening Session (7pm)
Chris Dobey 4-2 vs Josh Rock
Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Brendan Dolan
Luke Littler 4-1 Ian White
11:01 PM GMT
The thoughts of Luke Littler
“It was definitely tough. Ian threw everything at me. If I hit 180, he would hit back with a 180. I always had to stay switched on. It was a case of settling in quickly. First set was ok and after the first break I was really up for it. When you are 3-1 up you have that feeling, you are only three legs away. I do not think double 20 and double 10 liked me tonight and I do not think I like them!
“The crowd were good for both of us. I watched Ryan’s [Joyce] game. He was very good. I know I need to hit my doubles. Most importantly I won tonight.”
10:57 PM GMT
Littler into the last-16
Can Littler check out 170 to win the match? He hits treble 20, treble 20 but narrowly misses bullseye for an incredible end to the match. White cannot check out 133, which leaves Littler 25 to win. He hits single five and then lands double ten to win the match 4-1.
He will play Ryan Joyce in the next round. A dozen 180s in the match for Littler. He finishes up with an average of 97.84.
10:54 PM GMT
Littler (3) 2-1* (1) White
Another 180 struck by Littler. His first possible checkout is 140 with White off the pace. Littler will not hit 140 but has 80 to win the leg. Littler misses double 10 but hits double five and is now just one leg away from the next round.
10:53 PM GMT
Littler (3) *1-1 (1) White
Littler fires in a 180 to put the pressure on White. He has 47 to break White’s throw. Littler cannot double 20 or double 10 which gives White the chance of the leg with a checkout of 40 remaining. He gets double 20 to take the leg.
10:50 PM GMT
Littler (3) 1-0* (1) White
Just one set away from the fourth round, Littler has the throw at the start of the set. He has 91 to win the leg with White not on a finish but he cannot hit double tops.
Littler needs double 10 to go 1-0 up in this fifth set but misses. That leaves him double five, which he takes.
10:45 PM GMT
Littler takes the fourth set
Littler is hitting plenty of 180s but White has the higher average at the moment.
White has 110 to claim the set. He hits treble 20, single 10 but misses double tops.
That gives Littler the chance to check out 70 and at the second attempt hits double 20 to win set four. He is 3-1 up and just one set away from the fourth round.
10:42 PM GMT
Littler (2) 2-2* (1) White
White hits a 180 of his own and is in with a great chance of breaking the throw. Despite a 180 for Littler, White has the chance of checking out 60 but misses.
Littler has one dart at tops to close out the set but wastes it.
Over to White for double 10 and he lands it at the second attempt. All to play for for the fourth set.
10:41 PM GMT
Littler (2) *2-1 (1) White
An eighth maximum in the 15th leg for Littler. With Littler having just 35 remaining, White has 120 to win the leg. He has double tops to win it but misses. Littler then has the chance to take the leg by hitting double 10 and, at the second attempt, delivers. On his own throw coming up, Littler will have the chance to win the set.
Luke Littler looking to go 3-1 up in the match – James Fearn/Getty Images
10:38 PM GMT
Littler (2) 1-1* (1) White
Yet another 180 for Littler, who is storming his way to this leg. He has a chance of 130 with the bullseye finish but, with White not on a finish, he just sets up the finish on his next throw. He has double 20 to win the leg and delivers to make it 1-1 in this fourth set.
10:37 PM GMT
Littler (2) *0-1 (1) White
White is on throw to start the fourth set. Littler lands the 11th 180 of the match between these two.
Can White check out 140? No he cannot so Littler requires 74 to break throw. He just misses double 20, giving White a shot at double tops, which he takes. It feels like White needed that one.
10:35 PM GMT
Littler takes third set
Both players start this leg with 180s. Littler has 88 to claim the third set and, with white needing just 36, the pressure is on.
Littler has to hit the bullseye to win the set and he does so. He now leads 2-1 in the match.
10:33 PM GMT
Littler (1) *2-0 (1) White
Against the throw Littler has a 52 checkout to go 2-0 up in the third set. 12 sets up double tops, which he hits again to go one leg away from taking the third set and he will be on throw.
10:31 PM GMT
Littler (1) 1-0* (1) White
Despite a 180 from White in that leg, Littler has 40 to win the first leg of this third set. Double tops hit first time and Littler is on the board in the third set. Exactly the response he was after.
10:25 PM GMT
White fights back to claim second set
Littler lands another 180 to leave him 72 to win the leg. He has double tops to win but goes too high, leaving White with 51 to close out the set. He misses double 10 and wastes the opportunity.
Littler misses double 20 and double 10 so White has another chance. He hits double five and the second set goes to White. Game well and truly on.
10:23 PM GMT
Littler (1) *1-2 (0) White
Littler leaves himself 114 to win the leg and hits double tops to take it. He will now be on throw and, if he lands the next leg, it will be all to play for in this set.
10:21 PM GMT
Littler (1) 0-2* (0) White
Littler makes his second 180 of the match at the start of the second leg.
White responds later in the leg with a 180 of his own.
Littler needs 125 to win but cannot get it so White requires 86 to go 2-0 up. He hits double 16 and is just one leg away from taking the second set.
Littler under pressure in the second set – James Fearn/Getty Images
10:19 PM GMT
Littler (1) *0-1 (0) White
White has the throw at the start of this second ...
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