Luke Littler defies slow start to beat Ian White and reach World Darts Championship last 16
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Luke Littler’s quest for a maiden World Darts Championship title remains firmly on track after a third-round victory over Ian White. The teenage sensation, last year’s runner-up against the odds and now the title favourite 12 months later, recovered from another sluggish start and some uncharacteristic struggles on the doubles to win 4-1 in the final match of Saturday’s evening session at Alexandra Palace and reach the last 16.
Up next for Littler is a first-ever meeting with Ryan Joyce, who earlier on day 11 outlasted 20th seed Ryan Searle 4-3 in a thrilling contest. Littler, who averaged just under 98 for the match against White, told Sky Sports: "It was tough, Ian threw everything at me and I had to stay switched on.
"It was just a case of settling into it. I know what's gone wrong tonight, the doubles, but most importantly, I've won.". Littler almost suffered an early shock when White missed a dart for the first set, before more uncharacteristically loose doubles let the 54-year-old level the match at 1-1.
Littler looked to have stirred when he rounded off a much more impressive third set with a shot at bull, but he gifted White another set dart in the fourth before crucially snatching the set and moving on to complete his victory. Littler will Joyce next after Joyce edged a nail-biting 4-3 win over Searle in the final match of the afternoon session.
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