LUKE ‘The Nuke’ Littler looked to have found his best form of the World Darts Championship as he scorched past Nathan Aspinall to seal a semi-finals place.

The Warrington 17-year-old's scoring was powerful and his double-shots much improved as he sealed a meeting with St Helens thrower Stephen Bunting with a 5-2 victory.

He made 15 maximums, taking his tally for the tournament past the half-century mark, and capitalised on Aspinall’s inability to finish his own opportunities as he made it look relatively comfortable.

Aspinall extended the contest by getting it back to 3-1 and 4-2 but Littler closed it out as he looks to cap an outstanding first year on the PDC Tour – in which he was won 10 titles – with his first world crown.

“I think we both played very well but I’m so glad to win,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“The crowd were chanting for Nathan, they wanted a comeback, but I had to finish it.”

In reaching his second successive World Darts Championship semi-final, Littler started like a house on fire.

A 12-dart opening leg with a 105 checkout was followed by an 81 finish to break The Asp for a 2-0 lead.

In no time at all, a hold of throw sealed the first set for ‘The Nuke’ while averaging 118.

Littler missed double 20 to take first leg of the second set, Aspinall cashing in to go 1-0 on his throw.

But ‘The Nuke’ replied with an 87 checkout in 11 darts to level matters.

He was wide on the bull to close out the next leg, but got another visit to break Aspinall for 2-1.

And then his 65 checkout in the seventh leg put Littler in command at 2-0 in sets.

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Aspinall broke Littler’s throw for the first time at the start of the third set.

‘The Nuke’ hit straight back in kind for 1-1 and then after a 180-a-thon between the pair Littler edged 2-1 in front.

It went to 2-2 but after Littler started the deciding leg with 59, 57 and 56, Aspinall struggled to cash in. Littler missed the bull and Aspinall needed no further invitation to take the third set on the Littler throw.

Each man had successive visits missing doubles before Aspinall held his throw at the start of the fourth set.

Littler responded at 1-1 with his sixth leg of 12 darts or better, before The Asp held his throw. Littler missed the bull to force a deciding leg, then Aspinall did the same, but Littler cleaned up on his next visit for 2-2.

A brilliant 11-dart deciding leg from Littler moved him three sets to one in front.

A routine opening leg for ‘The Nuke’ in the fifth set was followed by a 101 finish in 12 darts to nudge 2-0 at lightning pace.

Four missed goes at double handed The Asp a way back in to break throw and cut the deficit.

But an 81 checkout against the throw clinched another set for the teenager, putting him 4-1 in front and one away from the semi-finals.

Aspinall fought back by taking the first leg of the sixth set but Littler replied to hold his throw in comfort.

When The Asp missed two shots at double, Little capitalised with a bull finish to break him and leave himself one leg away from the match victory.

However, Aspinall took it to 2-2 with the darts in his favour which he made the most of to take the set, but still 4-2 behind.

Littler went 1-0 up on their return to the oche and then magically finished on 101 with his 12th 12-dart finish or better, to again leave himself one leg away from the semis.

And he cruised home in the next leg to seal the match 5-2.