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
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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Michael Smith crashes out as Raymond van Barneveld sets up generational match with teenager Luke Littler
Raymond van Barneveld set up a mouthwatering clash with teenage sensation Luke Littler after fighting through to the last 16 of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
Van Barneveld was far from at his best but still beat Jim Williams 4-1 to secure a Saturday clash with 16-year-old Littler, who was born 21 days after the Dutchman won the most recent of his five world titles in 2007.
Van Barneveld told Sky Sports: “I will love to play Luke Littler. When I was 16 I was playing with Lego and Playmobile, we didn’t have the internet or whatever.
“This guy is amazing, and I am looking forward so much to that game. He is a quality player and I can’t wait to meet him tomorrow night.”
Smith crashes out as Van Barneveld sets up match with teenager Littler
The 56-year-old defeated Jim Williams 4-1 to reach the last-16
Schedule of Play
Saturday December 30
Evening Session (7:30pm)
Brendan Dolan vs Gary Anderson (last 16)
Raymond van Barneveld vs Luke Littler (last 16)
Luke Humphries vs Joe Cullen (last 16)
What is the prize money?
As well as the Sid Waddell Trophy, there is £2.5m in prize money on offer for the World Darts Championship with the champion netting £500,000.
The runner-up earns a cool £200,000 while semi-finalists will pocket £100,000 each and those that reach the quarter-finals winning £50,000.
Fourth-round and third-round losers earn themselves £35,000 and £25,000 respectively while there is £15,000 on offer for the 32 players knocked out in the second round and the 32 first-round losers will take away £7,500.
How to watch the World Darts Championship
The World Darts Championship will be held from 15 December 2023 to 3 January 2024 at Alexandra Palace in London.
The tournament will air on Sky Sports’ dedicated Darts channel with coverage beginning on December 15 and running through to the final in January. Sky Sports customers can stream the action online via the app and website.
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PDC World Darts Championship LIVE
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s darts action from the Alexandra Palace in London.
There are three last-16 fixtures on the schedule for this evening’s entertainment with the headline act being a generational match between Raymond van Barneveld and Luke Littler.
At 56-years-old Barney is an elder statesman on the tour and brings memories of the early 2000s when he won his world titles in battles against Phil Taylor.
In comparison, Littler is just 16-years-old and is playing in his first World Championship. The teenager has lit up the competition so far and could go on to reach the quarter-finals if he manages to get past Van Barneveld tonight.
Elsewhere, Gary Anderson is back in action as he takes on Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan while Luke Humphries looks to assert his claim as one of the tournament’s favourites when he closes out the night with an encounter against Joe Cullen.
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