World Darts Championship: Luke Littler on new pressure and 'toughest match' after winning start at Alexandra Palace

Luke Littler has experienced almost everything there is to darts over the past year – on and off the stage – although his quest for a first World Championship crown has started with new challenges emotional events at Alexandra Palace.

The teenage sensation headlined Saturday night’s line-up, 12 months after his remarkable run to the final on debut, with Littler – the pre-tournament favorite – opening his successful campaign against Ryan Meikle of Suffolk.

A 3-1 result doesn’t tell the whole story of Littler’s turbulent first match, where he briefly looked in danger of an early exit before dominating the closing stages to set up a third-round encounter with the Championship winner. Europe Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White. .

Littler came within millimeters of the second nine-dart shot of the tournament during a ridiculous fourth and final set, won in just 32 darts and with a superb record average of 140.91, while the 17-year-old was reduced tears and cuts. in short his interview on stage after his victory.

“It’s probably the hardest game I’ve ever played, but you have to cross the finish line,” Littler said during his press conference. “I don’t know where I got that last set from, but I just had to fight until the end.

“When I got on that stage, I felt really nervous, but I managed to find my game somewhere. I know I’m the favorite, but you have to focus on winning your first match, and that That’s what I did this evening.

“Like I said, it’s the worst game I’ve ever played. I’ve never felt anything like it tonight.”

Littler had to wait a long time to return to the stage at Alexandra Palace, with his opening match taking place on the seventh day and in the 12th session of this year’s tournament, giving the fourth seed more time to think hoping he wins the Sid Waddell Trophy.

“This is probably the first and biggest time the pressure has hit me,” Littler said. told Sky Sports. “In the Premier League, the first night against Luke Humphries, I was nervous at the time, but throughout the year – all the European tours, all the majors I played – I performed well.

“Coming in here, great. As soon as George Noble (umpire) said ‘play,’ I was like – I couldn’t throw them.”

He added: “(The pressure) was very difficult to deal with, but like I said, everything went well. As soon as George said ‘game’, I just couldn’t do it .First set, I shouldn’t have won it, but I did. After that second break, just dragging myself to the finish line.

Littler has already won the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts in 2024 and is set to face reigning champion Luke Humphries for the world championship, with both being in the same half of the draw, although he refuses to let himself carried away by the perspective.

“I’ll never say I’m going to win the World Championship,” Littler said. “I know almost every player has the courage to do it.

“I’ll never come here, after a match like that, and say I’m just going to beat everyone. You just have to focus on the next match.

Part: “New Experiences” for the “God of Darts” Littler

Littler has quickly become a household name in 2024, finishing second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also the most Googled sportsman in the UK, not to mention winning 10 PDC titles in his first full year as a professional.

“I don’t think anyone can understand the pressure he puts on him,” said former world champion John Part. told Sky Sports. “There are maybe a few people who have played this game who could understand it, but no one has ever had to deal with it at their age.

“I think the whole reality of what he did for the match that started at last year’s World Championship finally came crashing down on him after he won. It’s great that it wasn’t after a loss, because it doesn’t even seem like it’s fair after everything he did for the match.

“He’s the god of darts in a lot of people’s eyes that they’ve been waiting for. It’s so up to par for him. I just think it was the first experience of his real professional career at the World Championships.”

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