Luke Littler hits PDC World Championship record set average of 140 ...
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,Littler has risen from 164th to fourth in the rankings in a year
Frank Keogh
BBC Sport Senior Journalist
A tearful Luke Littler hit a tournament record 140.91 set average as he started his bid for the PDC World Championship title with a dramatic 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle.
The 17-year-old made headlines around the world when he reached the tournament final in January, where he lost to Luke Humphries.
Starting this campaign on Saturday, Littler was millimetres away from a nine-darter when he missed double 12 as he blew Meikle away in the fourth and final set of the second-round match.
Littler was overcome with emotion at the end, cutting short his on-stage interview.
"It was probably the toughest game I've ever played. I had to fight until the end," he said later in a news conference.
"As soon as the question came on stage and then boom, the tears came. It was just a bit too much to speak on stage.
"It is the worst game I have played. I have never felt anything like that tonight."
Admitting to nerves during the match, he told Sky Sports: "Yes, probably the biggest time it's hit me. Coming into it I was fine, but as soon as [referee] George Noble said game on, I couldn't throw them."
Littler started slowly against Meikle, who had two darts for the opening set, but he took the lead by twice hitting double 20.
Meikle did not look overawed against his fellow Englishman and levelled, but Littler won the third set and exploded into life in the fourth.
The tournament favourite hit four maximum 180s as he clinched three straight legs in 11, 10 and 11 darts for a record set average, and 100.85 overall.
Meanwhile, two seeds crashed out on Saturday night – five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld lost to Welshman Nick Kenny, while England's Ryan Joyce beat Danny Noppert.
Australian Damon Heta was another to narrowly miss out on a nine-darter, just failing on double 12 when throwing for the match in a 3-1 win over Connor Scutt.
Ninth seed Heta hit four 100+ checkouts to come from a set down against Scutt in a match in which both men averaged over 97.
Littler makes winning return
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,Littler was hugged by his parents after victory over Meikle
Littler returned to Alexandra Palace to a boisterous reception from more than 3,000 spectators and delivered an astonishing display in the fourth set.
He was on for a nine-darter after his opening two throws in both of the first two legs and completed the set in 32 darts - the minimum possible is 27.
The teenager will next play after Christmas against European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse, the 29th seed, or Ian White, and is seeded to meet Humphries in the semi-finals.
Having entered last year's event ranked 164, Littler is up to four in the world and will go to number two if he reaches the final again this time.
He has won 10 titles in his debut professional year, including the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts.
After reaching the World Championship final as a debutant aged just 16, Littler's life has been transformed and interest in darts has rocketed.
Google say he was the most searched-for athlete online in the UK during 2024.
This Christmas, more than 100,000 children are expected to be opening Littler-branded magnetic dartboards as presents.
His impact has helped double the number of junior academies and has prompted plans to expand the World Championship.
Littler was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday and was runner-up to athlete Keely Hodgkinson in the main award.
Van Barneveld knocked out by Kenny
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,Nick Kenny will play world champion Luke Humphries in round three after Christmas
Barneveld was shocked 3-1 by world number 76 Kenny, who was in tears after a famous victory.
Kenny, 32, will face Humphries in round three after defeating the Dutchman, who won the BDO world title four times and the PDC crown in 2007.
Van Barneveld, ranked 32, became the sixth seed to exit in the second round.
His compatriot Noppert, the 13th seed, was stunned 2-1 by Joyce, who will face Ryan Searle or Matt Campbell next, with the winner of that tie potentially meeting Littler in the last 16.
Fifteenth seed Chris Dobey booked his place in the third round with a 3-1 win over Alexander Merkx.
Englishman Dobey concluded an afternoon session which started with a trio of 3-0 scorelines. Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan beat Lok Yin Lee to set up a meeting with three-time champion Michael van Gerwen after Christmas.
In the final two first-round matches of the 2025 competition, Wales' Rhys Griffin beat Karel Sedlacek of the Czech Republic before Asia number one Alexis Toylo was victorious over Richard Veenstra.
Saturday afternoon's results
First round
Karel Sedlacek 0-3 Rhys Griffin
Richard Veenstra 0-3 Alexis Toylo
Second round
Brendan Dolan 3-0 Lok Yin Lee
Chris Dobey 3-1 Alexander Merkx
Saturday evening's results
Second round
Danny Noppert 1-3 Ryan Joyce
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 Nick Kenny
Luke Littler 3-1 Ryan Meikle
Damon Heta 3-1 Connor Scutt
Sunday's second-round schedule
All times GMT
Afternoon Session (12:30)
Ryan Searle v Matt Campbell
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Madars Razma
Joe Cullen v Wessel Nijman
Ritchie Edhouse v Ian White
Evening Session (19:00)
Martin Schindler v Callan Rydz
Ross Smith v Paolo Nebrida
Gary Anderson v Jeffrey de Graaf
Dimitri van den Bergh v Dylan Slevin
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