Luke Littler reaches World Darts Championship final: A look back on 16-year-old’s remarkable run at the Ally Pally | Darts News

Luke Littler, 16, is one win away from Alexandra Palace glory after crushing Rob Cross 6-2 in the semi-final; Littler will face Luke Humphries in the final; We're back on Wednesday at 7:30pm for the World Darts Championship Final – live on Sky Sports Darts

16-year-old Luke Littler is making history at the World Darts Championship and is now one victory away from becoming the youngest champion in history.

Nicknamed 'The Nuke', the teenager's sensational performances saw him become the youngest player to reach the final and received plaudits from his fellow players.

A look back at Littler's remarkable journey to Wednesday's final at Alexandra Palace, where he will face pre-tournament favorite and new world number 1, Luke Humphries…

Littler sweeps Kist away in Ally Pally debut

First round: (106.12) Luke Littler 3-0 Christian Kist (90.55)

“It started with a Kist, I never thought it would come to this,” as explained by Aerial sports commentator Rod Studd said it so poetically, echoing Hot Chocolate's words before Littler's semi-final against Rob Cross.

Indeed, that's where it all began, on December 20, when the new darts superstar knocked out 2012 Lakeside champion Kist in straight sets on his debut at Ally Pally.

Littler lost his tournament-best average – 106.12, just shy of his sensational semi-final mark of 106.05 – as he truly announced himself on the world stage, losing just two stages en route to an emphatic opening victory.

Gilding a goner as Littler-Mania is unleashed

Second round: (92.65) Luke Littler 3-1 Andrew Gilding (92.09)

Arguably Littler's most nervous display, with the first two sets both going to final match deciders, before UK Open champion Andrew Gilding won the third set 3-0 to lead 7-6 on legs won despite a 2-1 delay in the sets.

There was very little that separated the two players, other than the 37-year age gap, with Littler averaging just a stroke above Gilding's 92.09 in the match.

But Littler was unfazed by Gilding's mid-match charge, eventually winning 3-1 in the fourth set to eliminate the 20th seed and advance to the third round.

Composed Littler passes Campbell

Third round: (97.19) Luke Littler 4-1 Matt Campbell (91.29)

History was made on the Ally Pally stage – and not for the last time – when Littler became the youngest player to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

“The Nuke” got there with a relatively straightforward victory over Canadian Matt Campbell, who had impressed by knocking out 13th seed – and four-time semi-finalist – James Wade in the previous round.

Again, it wasn't Littler's best overall performance of the tournament, but it was certainly a torrid start to the competition from the 16-year-old as he took a 3-0 lead in sets en route towards a comfortable victory, without losing a single match in the first two.

Barney beaten in devastating display

Fourth round: (105.01) Luke Littler 4-1 Raymond van Barneveld (99.61)

Littler's best was saved for his fourth-round box office clash with darting legend and five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Far from being stunned by the player he used to emulate as a child, or in awe of the occasion, Littler amazed Barney, who himself weighed on average about a ton.

He won each of the first three sets and, although he was forced to a last leg in the third and lost the fourth, he calmly notched a most memorable victory in the fifth.

Littler surpasses average again to crush Dolan

Quarterfinal: (101.93) Luke Littler 5-1 Brendan Dolan (86.45)

A much-faded Brendan Dolan was cruelly and comfortably knocked out in the quarter-finals, with the Northern Irishman not at all showing the kind of form that saw him shock former champions Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson in previous rounds.

With Dolan in the doldrums, averaging just over 80 for much of the match, Littler took full advantage, taking a 4-0 lead before closing out the match a few sets later.

“There aren’t enough words to express what he does.” Aerial sports Wayne Mardle said afterwards. “16-year-olds don't play like that… he's a real darts freak – and that's a term of endearment. The world should stand up and take notice.”

Former Cross winner convincingly beaten in semi-final

Semi-final: (106.05) Luke Littler 6-2 Rob Cross (102.77)

Only Michael van Gerwen, Barneveld and Anderson produced better semi-final averages than Littler's 106.05 against Cross (until Humphries later bettered it with his 108.74 to whitewash Scott Williams).

It was a performance you'd expect from a multiple world champion like these names before him, not to mention a 16-year-old rookie, with Littler putting up superb hits of 132, 142 and 147 along the way of his 6-2 victory. on the 2018 winner.

“It’s crazy to think that I’m in the final of a World Championship for my debut,” he said afterwards. “I was happy to win a match.” Now he needs just that, one more victory – the most important of all – to make history once again.

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