Luke Littler says “all eyes” are on him at the World Darts Championship, while John Half feels the teenager proved he is not “unbeatable” after being tested by Ryan Joyce.
Littler passed a tough test of his credentials as the title favorite. with a tense 4-3 victory over Joyce to reserve a spot in the last quarters on New Year’s Day.
Expectations for last year’s runners-up were raised following the shock departure of defending champion Luke Humphries and the 17-year-old was left under intense pressure at Alexandra Palace.
His class showed when it was needed most as he averaged 111 in the final set, having hit 14 180 in the match.
The Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts champion claimed he is the main attraction with or without Humphries during his press conference, saying: “I think there would have been expectations no matter what. Even if Luke had made it through, and obviously I have.” “If it had happened tonight, I think all eyes would still be on me.”
Littler also said he felt “more comfortable” last year, but since then expectations have risen considerably on the Warrington hurler.
“Obviously no one really knew me,” he said. “I was playing with absolute freedom. I would say that these last two games I have played with a little freedom, and also that injection of adrenaline has been there for me.”
Part: It’s huge that Littler had that kind of coincidence.
Littler will face his good friend Nathan Aspinall for a place in the semi-finals after the Stockport hurler produced a near-perfect shutout of Ricardo Pietreczko.
“It was everything we could hope for,” said Half, a three-time world champion. “We got to see Littler tested and tested, it was nice to see that he wasn’t perfect and could use some work, but he was resilient against a relentless opponent.
“Those are the games we like to watch. In them both players refuse to concede goals, to give up, and if they are given an additional opportunity, they take advantage of it.
“Luke did the job, an extra march in the last set with an average of almost 111. His best performance of the match came in the last. Littler is quite a talent. “He has a good chance.”
Part continues: “Littler realizes that he can’t joke up there, they’ll find out. He was serious at the right times.
“He really has the complete package in terms of skill and poise, but he’s not unbeatable. “I’m not saying he’s going to lose, he can beat anyone.”
“You can’t let your guard down for even a second.
“It’s fantastic that he’s been put to the test and won so many events. But in this scenario now, where it all started for him, I think, given the new context of who he is, it’s huge that he had that kind of struggle and overcame that situation. “.
Part about the quarterfinalists
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Party looks ahead to quarterfinals to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Darts on New Year’s Day
“Peter Wright has shown he can do something here. It has capabilities. All of these players have been growing and have gone from normal matches to truly world-class matches. It’s two or three long weeks. They have to have the correct times.
“Luke Littler is not alone. There are seven other guys and everyone is thinking, ‘this is it.'”
Watch the World Darts Championship on Sky Sports activities
Watch all the action on the PDC World Darts Championship 2025 from Alexandra Palace in air sports darts scam Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen in action, and you can catch the best of it here.
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