Luke Littler, 16, wins again as teen's World Darts Championship run continues

21 December 2023 , 20:09

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Luke Littler became the youngster player to win a match at Alexandra Palace this week (Image: Getty Images)

Sixteen-year-old sensation Luke Littler is into the third round of the World Darts Championship after a stunning 3-1 win over 20th seed and former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.

Teenager Littler, nicknamed 'The Nuke', was heralded with chants of 'He's got school in the morning' by fans at Alexandra Palace, but he showed the calmness of a veteran as he saw out the victory against opponent 'Goldfinger' Gilding who, at 53, is more than three times his age.

Littler, who was born in Runcorn in January 2007 and lives in Warrington, raced into a 2-0 lead with two gutsy 3-2 set victories, including a nerveless 46 checkout in the second.

Gilding then showed his class by winning three straight legs to wrap up the third set and put pressure on the teenager, but Littler dug in during a scrappy third set to clinch victory as Gilding was punished for missing chances.

Littler has seen his odds to win the Championship tumble in the last couple of days, and will now face Canada's Matt Campbell in the last-32 after Christmas.

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Luke Littler is now into the third round (Getty Images)

The youngster said: "I think when I went two up I gave it a bit and lost all my energy. I was nervous as it is, I don't know how I got over the line but I've done it.

"I said to myself this morning, but when I went 2-0 up I just put loads of pressure on my shoulders. But I've done it."

Littler celebrated his first round win with a kebab bought by his manager on Wednesday night, and he said that planned to buy another one only he would choose what was on it as he didn't like the previous offering.

Mark Jones