Luke Littler nears darting perfection in spectacular opening win at PDC worlds

An emotional Luke Littler came incredibly close to starting his journey for his first World Championship title with a perfect nine-dart finish, as he achieved a record-setting victory over Ryan Meikle.

The young star made a return to the stage at Alexandra Palace a year after his impressive journey to the finals and proved once again why he's the top contender for the championship.

Littler was on the verge of achieving perfection but missed a double 12. Nevertheless, he delivered an impressive average of 140.91 in the final set, ultimately securing a 3-1 victory.

This achievement marks the highest average ever recorded in a single set at the World Championship, showcasing how the 17-year-old is pushing boundaries. The victory was particularly moving for Littler, who became so overwhelmed with emotion during his onstage interview that he had to pause and wipe away his tears.

Littler was the star of the show on Saturday night, stepping into the tournament as the top figure in the sport. He had just come off a second-place finish in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and earned the title of the most Googled athlete in the UK for 2024.

He is the top contender for this year’s tournament after an impressive year, during which he has claimed 10 PDC titles, including the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts. Although he began the match slowly, he came alive towards the end, finishing the set in just 32 darts, which included a near-miss at a nine-darter.

The 17-year-old secured his spot back at Ally Pally after Christmas and will face either Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White in the third round. "It was the hardest match I've ever played, but as a competitor, you have to push through and find a way to win," Littler stated.

"I was fully engaged in the game, and I felt like I was at my lowest point. In the final set, I can’t explain where I found the energy, but I pushed through until the very finish. It felt great to be back and step on that stage, even with the nerves. I just had to tap into that inner strength, and I know it’s there."

"The moment the question was presented, I suddenly broke down in tears. It became overwhelming for me to speak in front of everyone. This was the hardest game I’ve ever participated in; I’ve never experienced anything like this before."

Raymond van Barneveld experienced one of his toughest losses at Ally Pally, being eliminated by world No. 76 Nick Kenny. The five-time world champion, who lost to Littler in the fourth round last year, fell 3-1 to the Welsh player, who was emotional and in tears after securing the win.

Kenny almost stumbled along the way, but he finally secured the victory with his ninth dart of the match, earning him a place in the third round against world number one Luke Humphries.

"It feels unreal; there's a deeper story to it. I think I’ve managed to hold on to my tour card," Kenny shared. "It was an incredible honor to compete against Raymond van Barneveld on such a prominent platform. He might not have been at his peak performance, but honestly, that doesn't matter."

"This is by far my greatest victory, and it means I can continue touring for another two years. Personally, there was a lot at stake for me, and this win allows me to truly advance and get my life in order."

Danny Noppert, the 13th seed, was another notable player who was eliminated, losing 3-1 to Ryan Joyce.

Earlier today, last year's quarter-finalist Chris Dobey kicked off his tournament with a 3-1 victory against Alexander Merkx. Karel Sedlacek, Alexis Toylo, and Brendan Dolan also secured straightforward wins in their matches.