World Darts Championship LIVE: Luke Littler gets through tricky test against Ryan Meikle to reach third round
The 17-year-old began his quest to create history at Ally Pally and dethrone Luke Humphries after falling one short earlier this year
Luke Littler began his quest for PDC World Darts Championship glory with the biggest name in the sport beating Ryan Meikle 3-1 in the second round at the Ally Pally.
On an off night for the teenager he managed to clinch the opening set by checking out 100 against the throw. Meikle was not to be beaten in a flurry though and fought back to level the match 1-1 after the second. A break of throw to win the third set signalled that Littler was finding his range and he stepped up in the fourth.
A 10-dart leg and and an 11-dart leg were enough to sweep his opponent aside but Littler was too emotional to take part in the post-match interview after claiming his win.
Elsewhere, the legendary Raymond van Barneveld was beaten by Wales’ Nick Kenny and dark horse Damon Heta faced Connor Scutt in a stacked evening session.
Follow all the action with our live blog below at Ally Pally on Day 7 of the World Championship:
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 1-2 (3-0) Nick Kenny
Van Barneveld has found his rhythm. He takes the next leg against the throw with Nick Kenny not managing to take out 120. With the advantage of throwing first, the Dutchman gets his first set on the board, winning 3-0, just about.
Is the comeback on? Nick Kenny has the darts in set four.
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-2 (1-0) Nick Kenny
Can Barney get himself back into the match? He’s up against it as Nick Kenny lands a 140 to edge ahead of the Dutchman. A poor trip to the board means he hands the advantage back to Van Barneveld.
Kenny lands a 140 from 204 meaning Barney needs to take out 120. He doesn’t. Kenny has 64 left, he nails the triple 16, lands in the eight and then misses the double 4.
Barney can’t checkout, Kenny leaves two shots at double 1, misses them both. Barney takes out 36 and holds throw. Is that a turning point?
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-2 Nick Kenny
The crowd start chanting ‘Barney army!’ and the Dutchman responds to leave himself with three shots at double 20. He misses the first two but lands the last one to break!
Barney then holds throw to set up a deciding leg and Kenny sends down a 180 to start! What a move. The 31-year-old is first to a checkout at 124 but he’ll have six darts to get out of the match. He leaves himself 32 and will have three attempts to win the set.
He misses the first, he misses the second and leaves double eight. One dart at it... he gets it!
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-1 (0-2) Nick Kenny
Van Barneveld is starting to throw better but Kenny is matching him throw for throw. The Welshman holds throw for the first leg of the second set then opens up with a big 180!
That puts him back in control and a break could kill off Van Barneveld’s resistance.
Nick Kenny lands a 140 to leave 52 against the throw with Barney not on a checkout. Kenny hits the 12, misses his first effort at tops then lands the second in the double 20.
He takes a two leg lead in the second set.
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-1 Nick Kenny
Work for Barney to do to rescue this match. He’s one set down after a nervous start, will he be another big name to fall at the first stage?
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-1 Nick Kenny
Kenny fails to check out 95 and misses his one shot at double 16. In response Van Barneveld misses the chance to break by slipping wide of the double 18 trying to take out 76.
Kenny offers up plenty of chances for Barney. He misses seven darts to take the set but the Dutchman can’t take advantage. He misses five attempts of his own before Kenny finally lands a double two and moves into the lead.
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-0 (1-2) Nick Kenny
Kenny outscores Barney once again and gets himself down to 66 after nine darts. He then misses a simple 12 and opens the door for his opponent who checks out to get his first leg on the board.
Barney won’t panic, he’s been here and seen it all before.
World Darts Championship 2025: Raymond van Barneveld 0-0 (0-2) Nick Kenny
Nick Kenny, a Welshman who has one of the toughest draws in the World Championship this year, gets off to the perfect start by clinching the first leg against darts royalty Raymond van Barneveld aginst the throw.
He cleans out 97 in the second leg with a triple 19, double 20 (on the second attempt). There’s a chance for him to clinch the first set now as well.
Good start.
World Darts Championship 2025: Danny Noppert 1-3 Ryan Joyce
Would you believe it? Noppert up 2-1 in legs, but Joyce storms back and punishes him with some clinical finishing.
And just like that, Joyce is through to the third round for the second time in his career.
Up next, a legend! Former world champion Raymond van Barneveld takes on Nick Kenny.
World Darts Championship 2025: Danny Noppert 1-2 Ryan Joyce
This game has flipped on its head, Joyce is up and rowdy, giving it some as the crowd go wild. He’s 2-1 up, oh my.
Noppert in some trouble, could another seed fall?
A side note, we’ve taken a while to get through three sets, a shade over 40 minutes already, keep that in mind for Littler later. We’re leaning towards 9:30pm at this rate...
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