LUKE ‘The Nuke’ Littler regathered his composure to speak to the media after leaving the Alexandra Palace stage in tears following his hard-earned win against Ryan Meikle in the World Darts Championship second round on Saturday night.

The Warrington 17-year-old was nervous and sluggish in the opening two sets on his return to the scene that sparked a whole new era for the sport last year with his debut run to the final.

Despite his slow start though, out of nowhere ‘The Nuke’ ignited as he completed the mission with a championship-record set average score of 141 and was millimetres the wrong side of the double 12 wire for what would have been a record fifth nine-darter in one year.

Littler is the event's main attraction, arriving at the tournament as the biggest name in the sport, fresh from winning BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and becoming the most searched sportsman on Google in the UK during 2024.

Explaining his emotions afterwards, the tournament favourite said: “It was probably the toughest game I’ve played but as a player you’ve got to get over the line.

“The last set, I don’t know where I pulled it from. I went 1-0 up but really shouldn’t have, then the second set was my throw and I didn’t do much about it, then I just had to fight until the end.”

Luke Littler with his dad Anthony and mum Lisa following his victory over Ryan Meikle (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

The Premier League, Grand Slam and World Series champion was so looking forward to getting back on the Ally Pally stage but his performance did not start as he wanted it to.

“It was good to be back, leading up to it and the train journey down. I couldn’t wait but got on that stage and bottom went a bit nervous,” he said.

“I had to find it from somewhere and I know I’ve got it. That’s what happened in the final set.

“I’m the favourite, but plenty of players have said it, you just have to look to win that first game.”