Luke Littler edges through to the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship after nervy deciding-set win over Ryan Joyce - as he keeps alive his dream of becoming the sport's youngest-ever champion
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Luke Littler ended his remarkable 2024 by surviving a huge scare and securing his place in the World Championship quarter-finals after beating Ryan Joyce 4-3 in a thriller on Monday night. ‘I thought I went into 10th gear at one point there,’ said Littler. ‘I wouldn’t say I was nervous, it was just adrenaline,’ added the 17-year-old.
![[Littler was pushed all the way by Ryan Joyce before finally prevailing in a deciding set]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/23/93601203-14237775-image-a-57_1735600318942.jpg)
The likes of Kyle Walker and Aaron Ramsdale were at the Ally Pally to witness the tournament favourite in action and he held his nerve in a gruelling battle to set up an all-English clash on New Year’s Day against Nathan Aspinall for a place in the last four.
![[Littler will face Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals on New Year's Day]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/23/93601209-14237775-image-a-58_1735600342389.jpg)
Littler breezed through the first set but despite averaging 104 in the second set, 39-year-old Joyce broke him three times, winning the deciding leg with a brutal 116 checkout. Littler hit back with a ruthless third set, where he averaged 108 but Joyce levelled in the fourth, even though Littler averaged 102, with a solid 86 finish.
Joyce began the fifth set with a 117 checkout but Littler turned up the gears and let off a huge roar as he took a 3-2 lead. Luke Littler held his nerve to book his place in the quarter-finals of the World Championship. Littler was pushed all the way by Ryan Joyce before finally prevailing in a deciding set.
Littler will face Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals on New Year's Day. Littler missed a match dart in the sixth and Joyce lived up to his ‘Relentless’ nickname by punishing him and levelling again. But Littler showed his class in the deciding set, starting off with six perfect darts and finishing the leg with an average of 111 and a match average of 103.
