World Darts Championship: Luke Littler beats Rob Cross and overcomes crowd jeers to e-book quarter-final spot at Alexandra Palace

World No 1 Luke Littler is thru to the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship after battling to a 4-2 victory over former world champion Rob Cross on the Alexandra Palace.

Littler delivered one other spectacular efficiency as he appears to grow to be the primary participant since Gary Anderson to win back-to-back world titles, firing a 106.58 common and an unbelievable 17 maximums to achieve the final eight for the third consecutive yr.

The Nuke recovered from dropping his first set of the event to win the following two and open a 3-1 benefit, just for Cross to combat again by profitable the following set with a surprising 126 end on the bullseye.

Cross missed a dart that will have taken an absorbing contest to a final-set decider, as Littler closed out victory – having obtained boos from the group – to arrange a quarter-final towards both Luke Woodhouse or Krzysztof Ratajski.

“Can I just say one thing – you guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me!” Littler mentioned on stage after his victory. “I’m not bothered! Really, I’m not bothered!”

“It was hostile, no one wanted me to win. Yet again, I’ve proved them wrong. It [title defence] is not in reach just yet, you have got to get to the final. I’ll enjoy two days off and I’ll be back on New Year’s Day.”

Ryan Searle additionally cruised into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over James Hurrell, whereas the opposite match of the night – and the final of the third spherical – noticed Josh Rock battle again from a set all the way down to beat Callan Rydz 4-1.

Littler holds agency to e-book quarter-final spot

Littler had received his first three matches of his yr’s event in straight units and threatened to do the identical when he broke Cross early on his option to profitable the opener, the place ‘Voltage’ did not capitalise on the defending champion lacking six darts at double.

Cross fired a 109 end to interrupt throw on his option to profitable the second, levelling the match, however may do little or no as Littler breezed by way of the third set in straight legs and with a 125 common.

Littler closed out the third with a 128 checkout and capitalised on errors from Cross to win the fourth, just for the 2018 champion to win the fifth set along with his largest end of the match after which break the world No 1 to maneuver 2-1 up within the sixth set.

Cross was unable to take out an 82 end that would have levelled the competition, as Littler produced a 10-dart maintain on tops earlier than signing off victory – the place he broke this yr’s report for many 180s in a match – with a 68 end.

“I just had to hold, then Rob [Cross] broke me and I had to break him back,” Littler added. “I just saw the stats then – I wasn’t thinking of anything – I just wanted to win the game.”

Searle races previous Hurrell into final eight

‘Heavy Steel’ Searle continued his report of not dropping a set on this yr’s World Darts Championship as he booked a maiden quarter-final look by beating Hurrell in one other dominant show.

Hurrell missed a set dart on tops as Searle pinched the opener in a final-leg decider, earlier than Searle fired a 109 checkout on his option to wrapping up the second set in straight legs.

Searle dropped simply two extra legs on his option to profitable the remaining two units, that means he’ll head into his quarter-final towards Jonny Clayton or Andreas Harrysson have dropped solely 11 legs throughout his first 4 matches.

“Honestly, I thought that was rubbish!” Searle advised Sky Sports activities. “To have a 100 (average) is massive. I don’t really know what happened then. Just threw a few darts and managed to win. We’ll take it and have a couple of days off now.”

Rock fires previous emotional Rydz

Rock paid tribute to Rydz’s grandfather, who handed away within the days main as much as their match, after defeating the Englishman to achieve the fourth spherical for the primary time since 2023.

Rydz was visibly emotional and regarded as much as the sky on a number of events throughout an entertaining contest, the place he received the opening set earlier than each gamers went seven darts into an ideal leg in the course of the second.

Rock produced an 11-dart break and responded to Rydz profitable the following in 10 darts to say a final-leg decider, levelling the competition, then received every of the following three units to arrange a last-16 assembly with Justin Hood.

“I was a man on a mission but it – I want to say sorry to Callan and his family for the loss of his grandad,” Rock advised Sky Sports activities. “I’m up right here to do a job and I did my job however I wish to ship my condolences to the Rydz household.

“I think I had to go a set down to pick up. I am not here to make the numbers up, I am here to win the title. If I keep playing the way I know I can, I can win the title.”

The afternoon session noticed Nathan Aspinall crash out with a final-set loss to Kevin Doets and Charlie Manby beat Ricky Evans 4-2 attain the fourth spherical, with Justin Hood additionally by way of after a 4-1 win over Ryan Meikle.

What’s subsequent?

The remaining six fourth-round ties happen on Tuesday, with world No 2 Luke Humphries headlining the night session towards Kevin Doets after Michael van Gerwen takes on Gary Anderson in an eagerly-anticipated contest.

The opposite match of the night sees Charlie Manby play Gian van Veen, whereas the afternoon session has Luke Woodhouse up towards Krzysztof Ratajski, Jonny Clayton taking over Andreas Harrysson and Justin Hood going up towards Josh Rock.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely dwell till January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel (Sky channel 407). Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.