I used to beat Luke Littler's grandad all the time at darts - now I'm facing the 17-year-old at World Championship
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It's not often that an athlete can claim they've taken on their opponent's grandfather, but such is the case with Ian White ahead of his clash against Luke Littler. Littler, 17, booked his place in the third round of the World Darts Championship after a victory over Ryan Meikle last Sunday - as he produced a stunning 140.91 average in the final set to win.
![[Littler (pictured) and White will go head-to-head at the World Darts Championships]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/14/93519681-14229993-image-a-2_1735310507028.jpg)
In doing so, he set up a clash with White - who beat European champion Ritchie Edhouse in the second round - which will take place on Saturday night. World No 57 White has not made it past the quarter-finals of a PDC major since 2021, but beat Michael van Gerwen 6-1 in last month's Players Championship Finals.
![[Littler overcame a slight scare to book his place in the third round of the competition]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/14/93519683-14229993-image-a-3_1735311032379.jpg)
Now, however, he has the chance to make history by knocking Littler out of the competition and lifted the lid on his unique connection to the teenager. According to The Sun, White, 54, explained: 'When I first started in darts, I played against his grandad, Phil Littler.
![[White, ahead of their match, insisted that he has 'no pressure' for the clash with Littler]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/14/93519661-14229993-image-a-4_1735311035883.jpg)
World No 57 Ian White has revealed his unique connection to rival player Luke Littler. Littler (pictured) and White will go head-to-head at the World Darts Championships. 'That was in Runcorn. I used to beat him all the time! We played for local teams. I played against him loads of times. We had banter.
'I wouldn't have seen Luke in those days in the pub – he wasn't even born then. That was in the 90s. I saw Phil not that long ago. It was a bad time, though. It was at a funeral. 'When I spoke to his grandad, he went: 'Watch out, Luke's playing well.' But Luke has got to turn 18 yet. He has got to have a beer. He has got to be with the girls.
