An “over the moon” Ryan Meikle believes all the pressure is on Luke Littler for their second-round match at the World Darts Championship on Saturday, adding “I’ve got a chance”.
Meikle edged past Fallon Sherrock in their first-round encounter on Tuesday night, coming back from 1-0 down to ultimately prevail 3-2.
The win sets up a meeting with 17-year-old sensation and fourth seed Littler, in his first match back on the Alexandra Palace stage after bursting onto the scene with his stunning run to last year’s final.
“For weeks now, since the draw come out, people have kept saying, ‘you might play Littler’,” Meikle said.
“Social media and stuff, I was everywhere – I’ve never had so much media attention in my life, and it’s not because of who I am.
“Everyone wanted a Littler-Fallon second round, which I can understand – I know how big that would have been, I’m not stupid. But secretly, that gave me more motivation.
“I’m looking forward to playing him and I’m lucky to play him, especially here, where it all sort of happened for him.
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“I’m not going to tell you I’m going to win, but I’ve got a chance, so you never know.”
Meikle will certainly need to improve on his 83.53 average registered in his win over Sherrock if he is to trouble Littler on Saturday, but says the pressure is off – with his opponent the heavy favourite.
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Sherrock took out 78 to storm into 1-0 lead before Meikle mounted a comeback
“Tonight was a big one to get through,” Meikle said. “Onto Saturday, there’s no pressure on me now.
“I’m sure he’ll have a lot of pressure on him, obviously media-wise and the TV.
“I’m not looking to slow him down or do any sort of tactics. Hopefully I can just relax and play my best game.
“I don’t think he has any weaknesses, to be fair. I think he’s unbelievable.”
Sherrock was also burdened with the greater expectations when facing Meikle, but it’s now four consecutive years of first-round exits for her since her extraordinary, trailblazing third-round run on debut five years ago.
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Sherrock became the first woman to defeat a man at a World Championship in 2019 with victory over Ted Evetts
“I’m very relieved to get over the line, it was a massive battle,” Meikle admitted.
“Fallon didn’t play like she did a few years ago, and I was expecting the best version of Fallon.
“She’s a massive name, and what she has done for women’s darts is unbelievable, but I’m glad she didn’t play her best, because she probably would have beaten me.
“Tour-wise, average-wise, I like to think I’m a better player, but you’ve got to go up there and show that. I don’t know if I did, but I hit a few doubles and got there in the end.”
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Take a look back at the evening session of Day Three at the World Darts Championship
What’s next?
We have just one session of action for you on Wednesday December 18, which you can watch live on Sky Sports Darts from 7pm.
Jim Williams takes on Paolo Nebrida and Madars Razma faces Christian Kist, while Ricky Evans plays Gordon Mathers before Nathan Aspinall gets his tournament under way against Leonard Gates.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.