Luke Littler has experienced just about everything there is in darts over the past year – both on and off the stage – although his quest for the maiden Championship crown began in A world of new emotional challenges at Alexandra Palace.
The teenage sensation headlined the line-up on Saturday night, 12 months on from his remarkable run to the final on debut, with Littler – the pre-tournament favorite – opening his campaign to win over Suffolk's Ryan Meikle.
A 3-1 result doesn't tell the full story of Littler's thrilling opener, where he briefly looked in danger of an early exit before dominating the closing stages to secure a third-round meeting organized by European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White. .
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Luke Littler's 100 took the opening set against Ryan Meikle at the World Darts Championship
Littler came millimeters from shooting the second nine-dart finish of the tournament in the fourth and final amazing set, won in just 32 darts and with an amazing record of 140.91 average, while the 17 -year reduced to tears and cuts. his on-stage interview after winning was short.
“That was probably the hardest game I've ever played, but you have to get over the line,” Littler said in his press conference. “I don't know where I pulled the set from.” finally, but I just had to fight until the end.
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Luke Littler hit eight perfect darts before missing a double 12 for the millimeter-cased nine-darter!
“When I got on that stage I felt really nervous, but I managed to find my game somewhere. I know I'm the favourite, but you have to focus on the win your first game, and that's what I did tonight.
“Like I said, it's the worst game I've ever played. I've never felt anything like that tonight.”
Littler went to see his family right after he left the stage
Littler has been waiting a long time to return to the Alexandra Palace stage, his opening match coming on the seventh day and 12th session of this year's tournament, giving the fourth seed more time to reflect. expected to win the Sid Waddell Trophy.
“This was probably the first and biggest time it (weight) hit me,” Littler said Sky Sports. “The Premier League, the first night against Luke Humphries, I was nervous then, but all year – all the European tours, the majors I've played – I've been fine.
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Luke Littler reflects on his early struggles and top finish in his World Darts Championship opener
“Coming here, continuing, OK. As soon as (referee) George Noble said 'game on', I was just like – I couldn't throw them.”
He said: “(Pressure) has been a lot to deal with, but like I said, the way up was fine. As soon as George said 'game on', I couldn't do it. The first set, I shouldn't have. I won it, but then after that second break you have to drag yourself over the line.”
Littler has already won the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts in 2024 and is set to battle defending champion Luke Humphries for the World Championship, with both in the same half of the draw, although he refuses to be carried away around. preview.
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What a year it has been for Luke Littler, from his breakthrough at the World Championships as a 17-year-old to winning the Premier League title. Let's take a look at his amazing 2024
“I never say I'm going to win the World Championship,” Littler explained. “I know almost every player has it in them to do it.
“I never come here, especially after a game like that, and say I'm just going to beat everybody. You have to focus on the next game.
Part: 'New experiences' for Littler's 'god darts'
Littler has quickly become a household name in 2024, finishing second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also the most searched sportsperson on Google in the UK, without to forget the 10 PDC titles in his first full year as a professional.
“I don't think anyone realizes how much pressure it's on,” former world champion John Part said Sky Sports. “There may be a number of people playing the game who could understand it, but certainly no one has had to deal with it at their age.
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Luke Littler's 100 took the opening set against Ryan Meikle at the World Darts Championship
“I think the whole truth about what he did for the game that started at the World Championship last year has finally sunk in after he won. It's good that it wasn't after a loss, because it wouldn't even look. fair after all he did for the game.
“He's the god of darts in the eyes of a lot of people that they've been waiting for. That's as big as living for him. I just think this is the first experience of his professional career at Championships the Universe.”
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