Luke Littler reveals why he was left disappointed despite securing place in World Darts Championship quarter-final after nervy deciding-set win
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Luke Littler scraped through his fourth round match at the World Darts Championship against Ryan Joyce by the skin of his teeth and has now explained why the nervy win left him disappointed. The teenage sensation added the finishing touch to a remarkable year which began with his Alexandra Palace final against Luke Humphries - where he lost 7-4 - and featured wins in Bahrain, Austria, Belgium and Poland to earn £1million in prize money.
![[The 17-year-old beat Ryan Joyce but was gutted to miss out on a fifth nine-darter of the year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/09/93609517-14238677-image-a-2_1735635916998.jpg)
He scooped up the PDC Premier League title earlier this year before lifting the Grand Slam and World Series of Darts Finals trophies as he continued to impress on the oche. 'The Nuke', 17, now finds himself in the last eight of the World Championship for the second year on the trot but it has not been an easy ride, dropping sets against low-ranked Ryan Meikle and Ian White.
![[Joyce provided sturdy opposition and Littler will have to up his game as the event goes on]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/09/93609519-14238677-image-a-3_1735635940239.jpg)
His 4-3 victory against Joyce last night was one of the tightest of the tournament so far with the 39-year-old underdog pinning Littler back three times to force a deciding set. Despite showing his resolve and finding a way to progress, the world number four told Sky Sports there was something missing from his win, and it shows the incredibly high standards he sets himself.
![[He faces the daunting prospect of a red-hot Nathan Aspinall, out to prove doubters wrong]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/09/93609527-14238677-image-a-4_1735635976724.jpg)
Luke Littler has explained why he was far from happy after making the quarter-finals. The 17-year-old beat Ryan Joyce but was gutted to miss out on a fifth nine-darter of the year. Joyce provided sturdy opposition and Littler will have to up his game as the event goes on.
![[Stephen Bunting could be next for Littler as he looks to follow up last year's final loss with a win]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/31/09/93609539-14238677-image-a-5_1735636008722.jpg)
