World Darts Championship: Luke Littler survives scare and beats Ryan Meikle in robust opener at Alexandra Palace

Luke Littler made a successful begin to his bid for a maiden World Darts Championship title after coming by means of a troublesome take a look at in opposition to Ryan Meikle at Alexandra Palace.

Final yr’s runner-up recovered from a sluggish begin to dominate the closing levels of the competition, wrapping up a 3-1 victory to e-book a third-round assembly with Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White after Christmas.

Littler wanted a tops-tops end to edge the primary set in a final-leg decider however noticed Meikle stage the competition by successful the second, with the 17-year-old responding to being damaged once more within the third to shut out the set and edge forward.

The reigning Premier League champion then confirmed his good finest in a one-sided fourth set, opening with an 11-darter earlier than firing eight excellent darts on his approach to breaking Meikle within the following leg.

He missed the D12 for the nine-darter however wrapped up victory with one other 11-darter within the subsequent, with Littler visibly emotional after firing a staggering 140.91 common in a set the place he wanted simply 32 darts to win all three legs.

How Littler survived Ally Pally scare

Littler acquired an enormous welcome from the Alexandra Palace however struggled within the opening leg, permitting Meikle to carry regardless of lacking 5 darts at double, with the pair exchanging 13-darters throughout a decent begin.

Meikle squandered two set darts to permit Littler to interrupt again after which hearth 5 excellent darts on his approach to claiming the decider, taking out the 100 checkout with a showboat end, though the unseeded participant bounced again by successful the primary two legs of the second.

The fourth seed produced a 15-dart maintain forward of Meikle closing out the set, with each gamers exchanging breaks firstly of the third earlier than Littler took full management of the competition by successful the subsequent two and shifting right into a 2-1 lead.

Meikle’s hopes shortly evaporated when Littler opened with back-to-back 180s on his approach to an 11-darter, with ‘The Nuke’ going agonisingly near matching Christian Kist’s efforts from earlier within the week and firing a second nine-darter of the event.

Littler took out the D6 for a 10-dart leg earlier than signing off in emphatic fashion within the subsequent, finishing a victory he admitted in his post-match press convention had been “one of the toughest” he has performed in his younger profession.

“It’s probably the first and the biggest time it [pressure] has hit me,” Littler advised Sky Sports activities. “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.

“Coming right here, main as much as it, positive. As quickly as George Noble stated ‘recreation on’, I used to be identical to – could not throw them.”

Littler added: “[Pressure] been lots to cope with, however like I stated, main up positive. As quickly as George says ‘recreation on’, I simply could not do it. First set, I should not have gained it, however I did. Then after that second break you’ve got simply acquired to pull your self over the road. “

Van Barneveld suffers shock exit as seeds tumble

5-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld was knocked out after struggling all through a 3-1 loss to Nick Kenny, as compatriot Danny Noppert additionally suffered an early exit by the identical margin in opposition to Ryan Joyce.

Van Barneveld noticed his walk-on track minimize out twice as he made his approach to the stage, with the Dutchman damaged within the opening leg and dropping a sluggish first set regardless of Kenny losing seven set darts on a double.

The Welshman gained the subsequent two legs to pile additional strain on Van Barneveld, who responded by firing 15 and 13-darters earlier than dropping a final-leg decider to fall two units down and silence the partisan Alexandra Palace crowd.

Van Barneveld bounced again to say the third set and survived two match darts to take the fourth to a final-leg decider, the place Kenny missed six extra appears to be like at double earlier than closing out victory on double two to arrange a gathering with Luke Humphries after Christmas.

Noppert appeared to have management of his opener when he was closing in on a two-set cushion, just for Joyce to stage the match with a 15-darter after which comply with a 124 checkout within the third set with a 12-dart leg to maneuver 2-1 forward.

The tight contest was closing in on a decider when Noppert moved right into a two-leg benefit within the fourth set, however Joyce held throw within the subsequent and wrapped up a well-known victory with back-to-back 13-darters.

The ultimate match of the night additionally delivered extra darting drama, with Damon Heta getting back from a set down to supply 4 ton-plus finishes and threaten the right end on his approach to a 3-1 victory over Connor Scutt.

Heta discovered eight excellent darts earlier than lacking the D12 for the nine-darter, identical to Littler earlier within the night, with the Australian then squandering 5 extra match darts on the identical quantity earlier than finally discovering the double required.

Dobey and Dolan e-book spots in subsequent spherical

The afternoon session noticed Brendan Dolan arrange an enormous third-round conflict with Michael van Gerwen after a straight-sets win over Lok Yin Lee, whereas world no 15 Chris Dobey held off a fightback from Alexander Merkx to say a 3-1 victory and in addition attain the final 32.

Dolan fired a 106 end to edge a decent opening set in a final-leg decider and breezed by means of the second, with the Northern Irishman firing 13 and 14-dart legs through the third set – the place he averaged over 113 – to increase his seventeenth consecutive World Championship look.

Dobey took management of his contest by successful six of the primary seven legs on his approach to a two-set benefit, solely to see Merkx declare a clear sweep within the third set and break the Englishman within the opening leg of the fourth.

Merkx run was ended by a sensational 122 checkout by Dobey, who held throw within the subsequent leg earlier than closing out one other spectacular victory by firing back-to-back 180s on his approach to a 12-darter.

The opening match of the day noticed debutant Rhys Griffin thrash Karel Sedlacek in straight units and e-book a second-round assembly with Josh Rock, whereas Alexis Toylo additionally pulled of an enormous win on debut and can now play Krzysztof Ratajski after a shock 3-0 success over Richard Veenstra.

What’s subsequent?

There are eight extra second-round matches on Sunday, with defending European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse headlining the afternoon session in opposition to Ian White and Joe Cullen up in opposition to Wessel Nijman.

Ryan Searle faces Matt Campbell within the opening fixture of the day and Dirk van Duijvenbode performs Madars Razma, earlier than former world champion Gary Anderson begins his event within the night session in opposition to Jeffrey de Graaf.

UK Open winner Dimitri Van den Bergh goes up in opposition to Dylan Slevin within the night session, which begins at 7pm, whereas Martin Schindler takes on Callan Rydz and Ross Smith entertains Paolo Nebrida.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely reside till January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW.