Luke Littler became the face of darts after his first outing at the PDC World Championship and the anticipation is building for his return.
‘The Nuke’ burst onto the sporting scene by reaching last year’s final at Ally Pally at age 16 and in his debut professional tournament.
At 347 days past his landmark birthday, Littler became the youngest finalist in PDC World Darts Championship history.
He ultimately fell at the final stage following a 7-4 defeat to Luke Humphries but is back as one of the favourites this year.
Littler has since racked up two major title wins in the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts while breaking heaps of records.
When is Littler’s first match?
The teenage star begins his World Darts Championship campaign four days before Christmas on Saturday, December 21.
That is six days after the tournament has begun, with Littler not involved at all during the first round.
His fourth-place standing in the top 32 seeds means ‘The Nuke’ enters the competition in the second round in north London.
Littler is scheduled to take part in the evening session on day six, which is due to get underway at 7pm UK time.
Who will Littler face?
The Manchester United fan will be in action against either Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock in his second-round match.
Littler has already insisted it won’t be easy should he face the ‘Queen of the Palace’ at Ally Pally – where she made history in 2019 by becoming the first woman to ever win a match at the tournament.
Sherrock will return to the site of her crowning glory on day three, with her match against Meikle in the evening session on December 17.
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Littler at the PDC: How to follow
talkSPORT will have live commentary of the World Darts Championship action across the network.
We will announce details about our team in due course.
talkSPORT.com will also be right across the action with reaction and all of the latest news.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Littler will also be streamed on Sky Sports Main Event and Arena.
What has been said?
Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor has urged Littler not to attend BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year awards days before his opening match.
The record 16-time darts world champion told talkSPORT the 17-year-old needs to stay focused on the PDC World Darts Championship.
Joining talkSPORT Drive as part of The Sun’s darts night in London, Taylor said: “I would advise him not to go on it.
“I’ll be honest. Look there’s half a million pound on the table. I wouldn’t do anything, you know what I mean.
“I’d just do a video and say thank you very much if I win and focus. Half a million pound? But it isn’t just the half a million pound, it’s the publicity you’ll get, which he doesn’t need at the minute, and it’s also your spin-offs.
“So that half a million quid could turn into £2million.”
“The first round for everybody is going to be a dodgy one,” Taylor added. “It always is. Also with the world championships, it’s not just – football will be the same – you know you come into the middle of winter.
“There’s all kinds of bugs flying about and illnesses and flus and whatever.
“Make sure you don’t get laid up. We call it laid up in Stoke. Make sure you don’t get any you know, catch any colds or flus or whatever so that can knock you back.”