Luke Littler broke down in tears after beating Ryan Meikle 3-1 on Saturday night, as the 17-year-old secured his place in the third round of the PDC World Championship
Darts sensation Luke Littler has returned home for Christmas after kicking off his PDC World Championship campaign with an emotional victory.
Littler, 17, beat Ryan Meikle 3-1 on Saturday before breaking down in tears. Looking visibly overwhelmed after overcoming an early setback, Littler was forced to cut short his post-match interview with Sky Sports.
He went into the arms of his mum, Lisa, and dad Anthony as the crowd at the Alexandra Palace chanted ‘There’s only one Luke Littler’. The Warrington lad then posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Fought until the end and just good to be through to the next round. looking forward to heading home now for Christmas then back again for more. Cheers for all the support.”
Despite hitting a tournament record 140.91 final set average, Littler was frustrated with his start to the match which gave Meikle, who knocked Fallon Sherrock out in round two, a chance to win. Before tearing up in his TV interview, he admitted: “I started off dead slow.”
Speaking to written media shortly after, Littler managed to compose himself and confessed: “That was probably the toughest game I’ve ever played, but you’ve got to get over the line. I don’t know where I pulled that last set from, but I just had to fight until the end.
“When I got on that stage I felt really nervous, but I managed to find my game from somewhere. I know I am the favourite, but you have to focus on winning your first game, and that’s what I did tonight. Like I said, it’s the worst game I’ve played. I’ve never felt anything like that tonight.”
In a separate interview with Sky Sports, he added: “It’s probably the first and the biggest time it [pressure] has hit me. The Premier League, first night against Luke Humphries, I was nervous then, but throughout the year – all the European tours, all the majors I’ve played – I’ve been fine.
Will Luke Littler go one better and win the PDC World Championship? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
“Coming here, leading up to it, fine. As soon as [referee] George Noble said, ‘game on’, I was just like – couldn’t throw them… [The pressure has] been a lot to deal with, but like I said, leading up was fine. As soon as George says ‘game on’, I just couldn’t do it. First set, I shouldn’t have won it, but I did. Then after that second break you’ve just got to drag yourself over the line.”
After winning the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts in 2024, Littler has his sights set on claiming the World Championship to avenge his defeat to Luke Humphries in last season’s final. The two Lukes are on the same side of the draw and would theoretically meet in the semi-finals, but Littler isn’t getting career away yet.
“I’ll never say I’m going to win the World Championship,” he affirmed. “I know nearly every player has got it in them to do it. I’ll never come here, after a game especially like that, and say I’m just going to beat everyone. You’ve just got to focus on the next game.”
Learn more
