World Darts Championship LIVE: Latest updates as Luke Littler demolishes Raymond van Barneveld in last-16
The 56-year-old Dutchman crashed out as the 16-year-old Englishman won 4-1
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Teenage sensation Luke Littler continued his historic World Darts Championship journey by downing hero Raymond van Barneveld to reach the quarter-finals.
The 16-year-old has set the Alexandra Palace tournament alight on debut and is the youngest player ever to reach the last eight after a stunning 4-1 win. He showed maturity and talent way beyond his tender years to get past the five-time world champion, who he used to imitate in front of the television as a three-year-old.
Luke Humphries then clinched a classic that came down to a sudden death leg against Joe Cullen. Both men had darts at winning the match but it has the world number three who managed to get through to the quarter-finals.
Brendan Dolan also beat his second former world champion in three days when he ousted Gary Anderson 4-3. The Northern Irishman, who dumped out Gerwyn Price in the third round, was heading out as Anderson rallied from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 but he fought back to claim the final two sets and reach the last eight.
Relive all the action from the World Darts Championship below:
‘The dream continues’: Luke Littler emotional as 16-year-old extends World Darts Championship run
A teary Luke Littler is daring to dream after he became the youngest player to reach the fourth round of the World Championship.
The 16-year-old has taken the Alexandra Palace tournament by storm and wowed an adoring crowd with a sensational performance to destroy Matt Campbell 4-1 in the last 32.
Littler, who won the World Youth Championship in November, will pocket a guaranteed £35,000 but will have his sights on lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy in what would be one of the greatest ever sporting stories.
He was emotional when hugging his mum after the game having kept his dream alive.
‘The dream continues’: 16-year-old Luke Littler extends darts run
The 16-year-old has become the youngest player to reach the fourth round of the World Championship and could meet his hero Raymond van Barneveld in the last 16
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler admits he has ‘nothing to lose’ in historic run
Luke Littler is daring to dream after he became the youngest player to reach the fourth round of the PDC World Darts Championship.
The 16-year-old has taken the Alexandra Palace tournament by storm and wowed an adoring crowd with a sensational performance to destroy Matt Campbell 4-1 in the last 32.
Van Barneveld vs Littler
There is no disguising the age discrepancy between the pair as they prepare for one of the most eagerly awaited darts clashes of recent times.
“It would be unbelievable to play Raymond,” said Littler. “I used to imitate him all the time – stood in my nappy, celebrating like Barney.”
Van Barneveld responded: “The guy is amazing. When I was 16 I was playing with Lego and Playmobile, we didn’t have the internet or whatever.”
World Darts Championship 2024
Jim Williams 1-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Barney reaches the next round of the World Championship where he’ll face 16-year-old Luke Littler who is 40 years younger than the Dutchman.
Van Barneveld vs Littler
Luke Littler and Raymond van Barneveld will clash in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship on Saturday.
Forty years separate 16-year-old Littler, the youngest player to reach this stage of the tournament, and the 56-year-old five-time world champion.
Here the PA news agency underlines the vast differences between the duo as they go head to head for a place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace:
Fuel
Littler’s penchant for kebabs has provided plenty of food for thought with one London takeaway promising him free meals for life if he wins the world title, while an establishment in his hometown of Warrington is advertising Littler’s ‘favourite kebab’ on its menu.
Van Barneveld is less likely to opt for the takeaway option. His 2022 campaign almost came unstuck after a bout of food poisoning brought on by a dodgy Chinese.
Instead, the Dutchman said he expected to celebrate Christmas with a “gourmet dinner” after his opening win.
Van Barneveld vs Littler
Luke Littler and Raymond van Barneveld will clash in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship on Saturday.
Forty years separate 16-year-old Littler, the youngest player to reach this stage of the tournament, and the 56-year-old five-time world champion.
Here the PA news agency underlines the vast differences between the duo as they go head to head for a place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace:
Skill
As of Friday afternoon, Littler was one of only 10 players to average over 100 in a single match in this year’s tournament so far. His statistics of 106.12 in his first round win over Christian Kist ranking second only behind Stephen Bunting’s 107.28 against Ryan Joyce.
Littler also averaged over 90 in his subsequent victories over Andrew Gilding and Matt Campbell, and has lost just two sets in the tournament so far.
Van Barneveld averaged almost 100 in his first win over Radek Szaganski, but less than 90 in his win over Jim Williams.
Van Barneveld vs Littler
Luke Littler and Raymond van Barneveld will clash in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship on Saturday.
Forty years separate 16-year-old Littler, the youngest player to reach this stage of the tournament, and the 56-year-old five-time world champion.
Here the PA news agency underlines the vast differences between the duo as they go head to head for a place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace:
Experience
Van Barneveld won his fifth and most recent world title in on New Year’s Day in 2007, 21 days before Littler was born. The Dutchman has also won a number of major ranking crowns in both the PDC and BDO organisations.
Littler won his first senior event at the 2021 Irish Open at the age of 14. He won the World Youth Championship in Minehead last month, averaging 102.16 in the final, to qualify for Ally Pally.
Gerwyn Price suffers shock Ally Pally exit as Luke Humphries survives huge scare
Fifth seed and former champion Gerwyn Price was dumped out of the World Darts Championship after a 4-2 defeat to Northern Irishman Brendan Dolan.
Dolan held his nerve to close out the match with his first shot at tops after Price had clawed his way back from two legs down to level in the sixth set.
It was a crushing defeat for Welshman Price, who had been intent on repeating his victory in the behind-closed-doors tournament in 2021.
Dolan, who got through his second-round match via a sudden death leg against his compatriot Mickey Mansell, had served an early warning when he took out the opening set with a 144 checkout.
Gerwyn Price suffers shock Ally Pally exit as Luke Humphries survives huge scare
Price was one of the favourites for the World Darts Championship title but crashed out to Brendan Dolan, while Humphries came from 3-1 down to sneak through
Scott Williams sets up Michael van Gerwen clash
Scott Williams will take on Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals after his 4-1 victory over Damon Heta in the opening match of the day today.
He was particularly impressive on landing his doubles though Heta had a chance to stay in the match at 88 but was unable to win the leg in a performance riddled with mistakes.
Williams took advantage to claim a huge victory, egging on the crowd to cheer as he fired in double 2 to secure a spot in the next round.
Michael Van Gerwen seeks ‘attention’ in bid for fourth World Championship crown
Michael Van Gerwen wants to be the name on everyone’s lips as he continued his search for a fourth World Championship crown.
The Dutchman, who has not won at the Alexandra Palace since 2019, eased through to the fourth round with a 4-0 win over Richard Veenstra.
But for once, Van Gerwen had not been the one people had been talking about as 16-year-old Luke Littler stole the headlines after taking the tournament by storm with a sensational performance to destroy Matt Campbell 4-1 in the last 32.
And he was keen for some of the limelight.
Michael Van Gerwen seeks ‘attention’ in bid for fourth world title
The Dutchman, who has not won at the Alexandra Palace since 2019, eased through to the fourth round with a 4-0 win over Richard Veenstra
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments