Luke Littler has experienced almost everything there is in darts over the past year – both on and off the stage – although his quest for a maiden World Championship crown began with new emotional challenges at the Alexandra Palace.
The teenage sensation was the headline name in Saturday evening’s line-up, 12 months on from his remarkable run to the final on debut, with Littler – the pre-tournament favourite – opening his campaign with success over Suffolk’s Ryan Meikle.
A 3-1 result fails to tell the full story of Littler’s eventful opener, where he briefly looked in danger of a shock early exit before dominating the closing stages to set up a third-round meeting with either European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White.
Littler came millimetres from firing the second nine-dart finish of the tournament during a ridiculous fourth and final set, won in just 32 darts and with a stunning record-breaking 140.91 average, while the 17-year-old was reduced to tears and cutting short his on-stage interview after his victory.
“That was probably the toughest game I’ve ever played, but you’ve got to get over the line,” Littler said in his press conference. “I don’t know where I pulled that last set from, but I just had to fight until the end.
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Luke Littler hit eight perfect darts before missing double 12 for the nine-darter by a matter of millimetres!
“When I got on that stage I felt really nervous, but I managed to find my game from somewhere. I know I am the favourite, but you have to focus on winning your first game, and that’s what I did tonight.
“Like I said, it’s the worst game I’ve played. I’ve never felt anything like that tonight.”
Littler went to see his family immediately after leaving the stage
Littler faced a long wait to return to the Alexandra Palace stage, his opening fixture coming on day seven and in the 12th session of this year’s tournament, giving the fourth seed more time to reflect on the expectation for him to win the Sid Waddell Trophy.
“It’s probably the first and the biggest time it [pressure] has hit me,” Littler told Sky Sports. “The Premier League, first night against Luke Humphries, I was nervous then, but throughout the year – all the European tours, all the majors I’ve played – I’ve been fine.
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Luke Littler reflects on his early struggles and record-breaking finish in his World Darts Championship opener
“Coming here, leading up to it, fine. As soon as George Noble [referee] said ‘game on’, I was just like – couldn’t throw them.”
He added: “[Pressure] been a lot to deal with, but like I said, leading up was fine. As soon as George says ‘game on’, I just couldn’t do it. First set, I shouldn’t have won it, but I did. Then after that second break you’ve just got to drag yourself over the line. “
Littler has already won the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts in 2024 and is expected to battle it out with defending champion Luke Humphries for the World Championship, with both in the same half of the draw, although is refusing to get carried away about the prospect.
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What a year it has been for Luke Littler, from his breakthrough at the World Championships as a 17 year old to winning the Premier League title. We take a look at his amazing 2024
“I’ll never say I’m going to win the World Championship,” Littler explained. “I know nearly every player has got it in them to do it.
“I’ll never come here, after a game especially like that, and say I’m just going to beat everyone. You’ve just got to focus on the next game.
Part: ‘New experiences’ for ‘darts god’ Littler
Littler has rapidly become a household name in 2024, finishing second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also the most searched sportsman on Google in the UK, not forgetting the 10 PDC titles in his first full year as a professional.
“I don’t think anyone can understand how much pressure he has on him,” former world champion John Part told Sky Sports. “There might be a few people that played the game that might understand it, but certainly no one’s ever had to deal with it at his age.
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Luke Littler’s 100 checkout saw him take the opening set against Ryan Meikle at the World Darts Championship
“I think the whole reality of what he’s done for the game that started at last year’s World Championship finally kind of came crashing down on him after winning. It’s great that it wasn’t after a loss, because it just wouldn’t even seem fair after all he’s done for the game.
“He is the darts god in a lot of people’s eyes that they’ve been waiting for. That’s so much to live up to for him. I just think this was the first experience of what his real professional career is at World Championships.”
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