“LUKE LITTLER was left in TEARS after a brilliant win in his first match of the World Darts Championship. Teen sensation Littler, 17, started his darts campaign with a superb win over Ryan Meikle – but then had to cut short an interview after becoming emptional at the support he’d been shown. Earlier, former world”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
Teen sensation Littler, 17, started his darts campaign with a superb win over Ryan Meikle – but then had to cut short an interview after becoming emptional at the support he’d been shown.
Earlier, former world champion Raymond van Barneveld CRASHED OUT against Welshman Nick Kenny, while Littler rival Damon Heta is also in action.
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- Tearful LittlerLUKE LITTLER broke down in tears and cut short a TV interview due to emotion – after he almost hit his first Ally Pally nine-darter.
The Nuke was so overcome by what he had done following his 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship that he was lost for words.
Minutes after he had missed out on achieving the perfect leg in the fourth set, the tournament favourite was put in front of the Sky Sports camera.
Littler, 17, said “I started off dead slow…” to reporter Abigail Davies but then stopped talking and had to walk away to wipe away his tears.
Credit: Reuters
- Saturday’s resultsAfternoon Session
First round
Karel Sedlacek 0-3 Rhys Griffin
Richard Veenstra 0-3 Alexis Toylo
Second round
Brendan Dolan 3-0 Lok Yin Lee
Chris Dobey 3-1 Alexander Merkx
Evening Session
Second round
Danny Noppert 1-3 Ryan Joyce
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 Nick Kenny
Luke Littler 3-1 Ryan Meikle
Damon Heta 3-1 Connor Scutt
- Part on Littler’s pressureDarts legend John Part has spoken about the pressure on Luke Littler’s shoulders, ahead of his World Darts Championship win.
He told Sky Sports:
I don’t think anyone can understand the pressure he’s under. Certainly nobody has had to deal with it at his age.“I’m sure there’s so much relief for him. He can control that emotion and if he needs that time to himself after, then that’s fine.”
- Littler reactionLittler revealed his struggles to overcome his nerves.It’s probably the first time it’s hit me.
“I needed [the last set] quite a lot. I don’t even want to remember it. No offence to Ryan. I’m going to try and get it out of my head.
“It’s been a lot to deal with. When [referee] George Noble said ‘game on’ I couldn’t do it.”
- Game stats
- Heta apologisesBrilliant Hela apologised to the crowd for missing the nine darter.
It was eight perfect darts, but what did it matter.
He wins the match 3-1. Excellent stuff.
- Brilliant from Heta!Heta was on a nine darter!
He has swept Scutt in this fourth set 3-0.
Pick of the bunch in leg 2 was an 11 dart break.
- Heta 3-2 Scutt (2-1)Heta regains his composure to take the set!
Scutt’s sixth 180 of the match made little to no difference.
A miss on the bullseye doesn’t help.
Heta sinks the treble 20 and double eight and it’s 2-1.
- Heta 2-2 Scutt (1-1)And Scutt’s level!
Who would’ve seen this five minutes ago.
Heta wired double 9, allowing Scutt to nail the double 4.
- Heta 2-1 ScuttScutt’s broken the rut.
But Heta had the chance to win it – and busted 72.
- Heta 2-0 Scutt (1-1)A 110 checkout from Heta!
That’s sublime, and much needed.
Three ton plus finishes in a row from Heta, and he’s unstoppable.
- Heta 1-0 Scutt (1-1)And Fire starts the third leg as he finished the second.
But it looked so good for Scutt who found a 180 out of nowhere.
Heta nails double 18 and it’s a break of throw.
- Heta 3-0 Scutt (1-1)And there it is!
We’re level!
A 180, followed by a 140 for Heta and the Fire has caught fire.
He took out 116.
- Heta 2-0 Scutt120 checkout from Heta!
Amazing stuff from the Aussie, and he’ll throw for the set.
Brilliant break there.
- Heta 1-0 Scutt (0-1)Scutt might be outscoring Heta, who has a 98 average.
But Heta’s maximum puts him in the driving seat.
Double 4 and it’s the leg.
- Heta 2-3 ScuttBrilliant from the Sniper.
He nails 99 to set up 65.
He pins the bullseye – a total error.
But, Scutt lands the double 6 to get over the line and win the first set.
- Heta 2-2 ScuttScutt is back in this.
He missed the double 16.
However, he was allowed to return to sink the double 8.
- Heta 2-1 ScuttScutt gets on the board!
A brilliant 180 from him set that up nicely.
This is a contest of the highest order.
- Heta 2-0 ScuttHe’s bringing the Heat!
Heta gets his second leg on the board with a 14-darter.
Double 16 did the job.
Connor Scutt is stunned!
- Heta 1-0 ScuttDamon Heta strikes first.
It’s an early 16-dart break from the Aussie.
All eyes on this please, not Fury. This will be a classic, I promise.
- Highest set averageLittler has made history AGAIN.
He recorded the highest set average with a 140.91 in that set four.
Gerwyn Price had it before, with 136.64 in the final in 2021.
- Littler match stats
- Emotional LittlerAn emotional Luke Littler talks to Sky Sports.
“I started off dead slow,” he said.
He then breaks down in tears and runs to his mum and dad.
- Littler 3-1 Meikle (3-1)Everything has changed in the last three legs.
Littler sets up 52 with 136, brilliant stuff.
11 darter, 12, darter, and another 11 darter.
141 set average from Luke The Nuke! Game, set and match! Brilliant stuff.
- Littler 2-1 Meikle (2-1)He’s coming alive now.
A 180 from Littler, followed by another.
Can he hit the nine-darter? Wow! He’s just a whisker away from that double 12.
And he motions as much on stage. Amazing stuff.
Double 6 gets Littler over the line, with Meikle way out of sight.
