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Luke Littler holds nerve against Ryan Joyce to edge into quarter-finals

kieran crichard
·24-min read
Luke Littler reacts after winning a set during his fourth round match against Ryan Joyce
Luke Littler did not have it all his own way in a 4-3 victory over Ryan Joyce - Reuters/Andrew Boyers

A dream year has ended just as it began. The words “There’s only one Luke Littler” were booming out around Alexandra Palace and the most celebrated teenager in the country is again only three matches away from becoming darts’ youngest ever world champion.

Littler fell at the final hurdle last time and, while weaknesses were evident here in edging out Ryan Joyce for a place in the quarter-finals, it would take a brave man to doubt the 17-year-old’s status as tournament favourite.

Littler’s ecstatic celebration underlined the relief at prevailing against an opponent living up to his “Relentless” nickname, but a final average in excess of 103, alongside 14 maximum 180s, represented another frightening barrage of scoring.

Having won 10 tournaments already during his debut senior season, Littler again also repeatedly threatened an unprecedented fifth perfect nine-darter of 2024.

The one relative flaw was again in his finishing (Littler missed more than 30 darts at doubles), but there was still something ominous in the way that he instantly recovered from wasting a chance to close out the match 4-3 on double 20.

As he had done all night, Joyce had stepped up to confirm his status as the most reliable finisher in darts to take the match to a decider, only for Littler to immediately produce his best set of the match when the tension was at its most acute.

“I think I went into 10th gear at one point and I had to – he hit everything at me and I had to dig deep,” said Littler. “I would not say I was nervous. It was just adrenalin. This year has been totally different with the expectation – last year I was playing with freedom.”

‘With Humphries out, the eyes will be locked on me’

The expectation has further surged over the past 48 hours after Luke Humphries - the man who beat Littler in last year’s final was dethroned by Peter Wright – even if Littler admitted that he had slept through the biggest shock of the tournament.

A huge student of the sport, Littler usually watches every other match, but nodded off for the 11pm finish on Sunday night between Humphries and Wright before waking during the night and doing a double-take after checking his phone. “I was, ‘I can’t believe it’,” said Littler. “With Luke out, the eyes will be locked on me.”

They mostly already were and, while the odds have certainly again shortened, Monday night at Ally Pally was also a reminder not to forget about the bottom half of the draw and a potential final showdown against the great Michael van Gerwen.

Three times a world champion, six times a previous finalist and still only 35, Van Gerwen delivered a vintage display in himself averaging 102 to sweep past Sweden’s Jeffrey de Graaf 4-2.

“I knew I had this in me but to do it on this stage, in front of all these people, is unbelievable,” said Van Gerwen, who is seeded third this year. “When I play well, I believe in my ability and anything is possible. I’m not here for the journey, I’m here to win the tournament. I do miss my wife and kids, but I’m here on a mission.”

Littler will now face his friend Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day, while Van Gerwen will be against Callan Rydz, the surprise package so far in this year’s tournament following a series of high-quality wins. Wright, the champion in 2020 and 2022, Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey and the 2021 winner Gerwyn Price make up the rest of a last eight.

They are playing for a £500,000 first prize, with the new champion to be crowned on Friday night.

11:17 PM GMT

Littler celebrates with Aaron Ramsdale

Luke Littler hugs Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
Premier League footballers really do enjoy going to the darts - John Walton/PA

11:08 PM GMT

Quarter-final lineup on New Year’s Day

Afternoon Session:

Chris Dobey (15) v Gerwyn Price (10)

Michael van Gerwen (3) v Callan Rydz

Evening Session:

Peter Wright (17) v Stephen Bunting (8)

Luke Littler (4) v Nathan Aspinall (12)

11:07 PM GMT

More from Part

“It was everything we could have hoped for. We got to see Littler tested and tried, it was nice to see he was not perfect and could use some work but he was resilient against a relentless opponent.

“Those are the matches we like to watch. Ones where both players refuse to concede and if they are given an extra opportunity they take it.

“Luke got the job done, an extra gear in the last set, his best performance of the match came at the end. Littler is quite a talent. He has got a good chance.

“Littler realises he cannot joke around up there, you will be found out. He was serious at the right moments. He really is the full package in terms of ability and poise but he is not unbeatable. I am not saying he is going to lose and the right performance, he can beat anybody.

“You cannot let your guard down for a second. It is great he has been tested and he has won so many events. But on this stage now, where it all began for him, I think given the new context of who he is, it is huge that he had that sort of match and came through it.”

11:05 PM GMT

Today’s action

Afternoon Session (12.30pm)

Kevin Doets 3-4 Chris Dobey

Robert Owen 3-4 Callan Rydz

Ricardo Pietreczko 0-4 Nathan Aspinall

Evening Session (7pm)

Stephen Bunting 4-0 Luke Woodhouse

Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Jeffrey de Graaf

Luke Littler 4-3 Ryan Joyce

11:03 PM GMT

John Part on Sky

“Luke Littler was pushed all the way. He is now appreciating more and more what it is like to be at the top of this game.”

11:03 PM GMT

Luke Littler speaking post-match

“I think I went into tenth gear at one point and I had to. He hit everything at me. I had to dig deep. I just wanted him to miss! I had a lot of chances at the doubles. I am happy to win. I would not say I was nervous, it was just adrenaline. I just knew in that last leg just hold your own for once. I do not end the year with five nine-darters but hopefully I can start next year with a 180.

“We [him and Nathan Aspinall] have played plenty of times in the Premier League and he played really well this afternoon. I will chill tomorrow and come back New Year’s Day. I do not know what 2025 will hold for me. I want to start the year off strong and beat Nathan. This crowd has been fantastic for both of us.”

Luke Littler celebrates beating Ryan Joyce
Luke Littler into the quarter-finals - James Fearn/Getty Images

10:59 PM GMT

Match stats

Average: Littler 103.14 - 97.73 Joyce

180s: 14-7

Highest out: 68-117

100+ finishes: 0-2

Doubles success: 17/48 (35%)- 13/27 (48%)

10:57 PM GMT

Littler through to the quarter-finals

Littler’s latest chance to win the match comes with a possible checkout of 121 but cannot get it. There is little pressure from Joyce in this leg so Littler steps back up needing just 66.

Littler lands double 12 and he books his place in the quarter-finals.

Hats off to Joyce, who played his part in a terrific match. Ally Pally has been treated tonight.

10:55 PM GMT

Littler (3) *2-1 (3) Joyce

Talk about hitting a 180 at a big moment. A 14th 180 of the match for Littler.

Joyce needs 146 to keep it alive but cannot do so. Can Littler check out 86 to close out the match? He has two match darts at double 16 and double eight but misses both.

Joyce gets double 18 and the match is still alive. We have been treated tonight!

10:53 PM GMT

Littler (3) 2-0* (3) Joyce

A great time for Joyce to hit 180 but Littler responds with a crucial 180 of his own.

Double tops to take a 2-0 lead in this deciding set and he takes it first time. He is just one leg away from the quarter-finals.

10:51 PM GMT

Littler (3) *1-0 (3) Joyce

Joyce has the throw to start the set but Littler begins with a 180. He hits another 180 and Ally Pally is dreaming of seeing a nine-dart finish. Can he do it? No, much to the disappointment of the crowd!

With little pressure from Joyce, he needs 60 for the leg and hits double 20 at the second opportunity to break Joyce’s throw.

10:49 PM GMT

Joyce takes match to a deciding set

Joyce has a blinder of three darts to leave himself 92 to win the set. He hits treble 20 but misses double 16 twice.

Littler needs 116 for the match but misses double tops.

Can Joyce take us to a deciding set? Yes he can! What a match we are witnessing!

10:48 PM GMT

Littler (3) *2-2 (2) Joyce

Joyce has 107 to take us to a deciding set but the pressure is on with Littler needing just double tops. Joyce cannot get it so Littler has double 20 to take it to 2-2 in the set. He lands it first time and will be on throw to have the chance to win the match.

10:45 PM GMT

Littler (3) 1-2* (2) Joyce

Joyce needs 141 to take us to a deciding set but cannot get it so Littler has double tops to keep it alive. He misses it first time but makes no mistake second time around.

10:44 PM GMT

Littler (3) *0-2 (2) Joyce

Joyce has the shot at going 2-0 up in the set with a finish of 68. He has two attempts at double four but misses on both occasions. Littler cannot land 110 so Joyce has another shot at the leg. He misses double four but gets double two to be one leg away from taking it a deciding set.

10:41 PM GMT

Littler (3) 0-1* (2) Joyce

Littler has the throw at the start of this sixth set. But Joyce has a big opportunity to break Littler’s throw. Needs just double eight to claim the leg and he hits it first time. The pendulum keeps swinging one way and then the other. No player seems to have the momentum for too long.

10:40 PM GMT

Littler wins fifth set

A 180 at a big moment for Littler as he looks to close out the set. 124 is his first possible checkout but cannot get it. Joyce does not have a finish so Littler needs 68 for the set and hits double 20 to claim the set. Plenty of emotion shown by the 17-year-old. He leads 3-2, one set away from the quarter-finals.

10:38 PM GMT

Littler (2) *2-1 (2) Joyce

Littler has a great shot to break Joyce’s throw. He needs double 20 to win the leg. He misses all three attempts at it, which presents Joyce with a wonderful chance to go 2-1 up in this set but he also blows his opportunity. Littler likes double ten but cannot hit it. He has one shot at double five and gets it, much to his relief. Joyce puffs out his cheeks. Littler one leg away from the set.

10:35 PM GMT

Littler (2) *1-1 (2) Joyce

Littler responds with a 180 but then hits just 46 on his next visit to the oche. But it is another 180 with his next three darts. He has a shot at double ten to win the leg but misses. Joyce does not have a finish so Littler has another shot at the leg, which he does not miss.

10:34 PM GMT

Littler (2) *0-1 (2) Joyce

Joyce has the honour of being on throw to start the fifth set and begins the set in style with a 180. He has the chance of the first checkout of the leg, requiring 117 and nails it, hitting double tops. He has the momentum at the moment and continues to hit his doubles, which we knew he would be good at heading into tonight.

10:28 PM GMT

Joyce wins set four

With Joyce needing just 86 to win the set, can Littler check out 145? No. Joyce hits double 16 first time and takes the set. Another shake of the head from Littler as he walks off the stage.

Joyce makes it 2-2 and we are being treated to a great match at Ally Pally.

10:26 PM GMT

Littler (2) 1-2* (1) Joyce

Littler requires just 84 with Joyce not on a finish but cannot get it. He will come back to the oche needing double five for the leg, which he takes first time. Set still alive.

10:25 PM GMT

Littler (2) *0-2 (1) Joyce

Joyce is in front for the duration of the leg on his throw. 75 to claim the second leg of the fourth set but he misses double tops. An unlikely 160 checkout from Littler, which he cannot take.

Tops for Joyce but he misses. Double 10 is missed first time but Joyce gets it second time and is now just one leg away from making it 2-2 in the match.

A reminder that the winner of this match will face Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals.

Ryan Joyce celebrates during his match against Luke Littler
Ryan Joyce is testing Luke Littler tonight - Andrew Boyers/Reuters

10:23 PM GMT

Littler (2) 0-1* (1) Joyce

Littler throws first in set four. With Littler requiring just 30 the next time he steps up, there is pressure on a 140 checkout but he just misses double 16. Littler fails to take advantage and Joyce punishes him. A shake of the head from Littler, who is broken in the first leg of this fourth set.

10:21 PM GMT

Littler wins third set

Littler is ahead of the game in this leg with the chance to win set three. Double tops is needed and he makes no mistake. On this occasion not much of a celebration or emotion from the 17-year-old as he claims the third set.

10:19 PM GMT

Littler (1) *2-1 (1) Joyce

Joyce requires 81 to hit back. He has a shot at double 14 but misses. Littler needs 95 to win the third set but misses double tops.

Joyce does not miss again at double 14 and the third set is still alive.

10:17 PM GMT

Littler (1) 2-0* (1) Joyce

A 180 sets up a 164 finish for Littler with Joyce not on a finish but he cannot get it. He sets himself up for 24. He misses double 12 once, twice, but it is third time lucky. Littler now 2-0 up in this third set.

10:15 PM GMT

Littler (1) *1-0 (1) Joyce

Joyce to throw first in this third set. It is a slightly scrappy leg from the two players.

Littler does though have a checkout of 66 to break Joyce’s throw and hits double tops. Some emotion from Littler after hitting double 20.

10:10 PM GMT

Joyce wins second set

Three 140s on the trot to start the leg followed by a 180 from Joyce. Littler needs 130 to win the set but agonisingly misses bullseye.

Joyce hits treble 20, single 20 and then double 18 to close out the set. This match is well and truly on.

‘Relentless’ Ryan Joyce underlining his status here as the best finisher in darts - he’s hit four out of five shots at doubles so far. That compares to five out of 19 for Littler. Bobby George famously said that it was trebles for show and double for dough in this sport. Littler is exceptional usually in every department but he will certainly need to improve his finishing this year.

10:08 PM GMT

Littler (1) *2-2 (0) Joyce

Littler has 81 to break back and make it four breaks in the set. He has double 15 to win the leg but misses it twice.

Joyce has 147 to win the set but cannot manage it.

Littler makes no mistake and now has the chance to wrap up the second set on throw.

10:06 PM GMT

Littler (1) 1-2* (0) Joyce

Joyce is slightly off the pace in this leg, which gives Littler the opportunity to go 2-1 up in this set. Littler needs 70 to claim the leg but misses double four. An outside chance for Joyce of a 137 checkout but cannot succeed.

Littler misses double two three times and Joyce has double tops for the unlikeliest of leg wins, which he takes.

Three breaks in this set and Joyce is one leg away from winning the second set.

10:03 PM GMT

Littler (1) *1-1 (0) Joyce

Littler has the opportunity to break straight back after Joyce cannot check out 144. Double 15 for Littler to get the break and he takes it.

10:01 PM GMT

Littler (1) 0-1* (0) Joyce

Littler is on throw to start this second start. He has 121 as his first finish of this leg but not to be. With Joyce not on a finish, he knows he can come back for the chance to win the leg. Littler has two shots at double 12 but misses both. Joyce hits double 14 straight away and breaks Littler’s throw. Exactly the start to the set Joyce was after.

09:55 PM GMT

Littler wins the first set

Joyce’s average is actually around 10 higher than Littler’s at the moment but the latter has the chance to wrap up the first set in this leg. His first opportunity to do so is a checkout of 113. He is close to it but just misses double tops. Joyce does not have a finish so Littler needs double tops for the first set.

He misses double 20 by quite a bit but hits double 10 first time to take the first set.

Different look about Littler at the start of this match compared to his opening two rounds when he appeared decidedly tense. He looks comfortable but very focussed and, having started two of the legs with maximum 180s, has also been eyeing his first World Championship nine-darter.

09:53 PM GMT

Littler (0) *2-1 (0) Joyce

Joyce nearly gets his first 180 of the match with his first three darts on this leg but succeeds with his second visit in this leg. He has 85 to win the third leg and lands double eight with Littler miles behind in that leg.

09:52 PM GMT

Littler (0) 2-0* (0) Joyce

A second 180 of the night for Littler and Ally Pally is loving it! Joyce is off the pace so far and not putting too much pressure on Littler at the moment.

Littler has a checkout of 60 win but cannot hit double 20 or double 10. Joyce has an outside chance of checking out 120 but cannot land it.

Littler needs just one more shot at double 10 and takes it to go 2-0 up in this first set.

Luke Littler in action against Ryan Joyce
A place in the quarter-final is at stake - Andrew Boyers/Reuters

09:49 PM GMT

Littler (0) *1-0 (0) Joyce

Joyce to throw first at the start of this last-16 match and he begins with 95. Littler means business by hitting 180 with his first three darts of the night! On his second visit he hits another treble 20 but his much-desired nine-darter is not on for now.

Littler has double 10 to win the first leg and he hits it first time.

09:46 PM GMT

Walk-ons

The last remaining spot in the quarter-finals is up for grabs right now.

Ryan ‘Relentless’ Joyce is the first to make his way to the stage, followed by Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler.

We are ready for action at Alexandra Palace.

Luke Littler has revealed that he actually nodded off on Sunday night when Peter Wright was completing the shock of the tournament by dethroning Luke Humphries. The match didn’t end until just after 11pm and Littler then got quite the shock when he checked out his phone after waking up at 1.30am. “I was, ‘I can’t believe it’,” said Littler, who lost in last year’s final to Humphries. “With Luke out, the eyes will be locked on me.” They mostly already were but the odds have certainly now shortened.

09:34 PM GMT

Up next

Luke Littler and Ryan Joyce will be on the stage soon for the final match of the night.

09:30 PM GMT

Another footballer at Alexandra Palace

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale enjoying the darts
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale enjoying the darts - James Fearn/Getty Images

09:25 PM GMT

MVG through

Jeffrey de Graaf had brought it back to 2-2 but Michael van Gerwen has dominated the next two sets to book his place in the quarter-finals. He hits double three to win the match 4-2.

09:18 PM GMT

MVG update

The momentum seemed to be with Jeffrey de Graaf but Michael van Gerwen uses all his experience to come back to win the fifth set to take a 3-2 lead, one set away from victory.

09:12 PM GMT

All square

Jeffrey de Graaf was 2-0 down 15 minutes ago but has brought it back to 2-2 against Michael van Gerwen. All to play for ahead of the final match of the night; Luke Littler vs Ryan Joyce.

09:07 PM GMT

Kyle Walker at the darts

Tottenham duo James Maddison and Brennan Johnson were at Alexandra Palace yesterday and today it is the former Tottenham and current Manchester City defender Kyle Walker present.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker at the darts
Spending some downtime at the darts! - James Fearn/Getty Images

09:01 PM GMT

MVG update

The Dutchman raced into a 2-0 set lead but Jeffrey de Graaf has responded by winning the third set.

09:00 PM GMT

Yesterday’s action

Luke Littler’s path to glory may have been made slightly easier by the shock exit of the man who beat him in the final last year, Luke Humphries. The defending champion fell to a 1-4 defeat to 17th seed Peter Wright in round four last night. Stephen Bunting, who plays Luke Woodhouse tonight, is now the highest-seeded player Littler could play before Friday’s final.

2021 world champion Gerwyn Price booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over seventh seed Jonny Clayton.

One man who will not feature in the fourth round is 11th seed Dimitri Van den Bergh, who was knocked out by Callan Rydz yesterday in one of the final third round matches.

08:57 PM GMT

Today’s schedule

Afternoon Session (12.30pm)

Kevin Doets 3-4 Chris Dobey

Robert Owen 3-4 Callan Rydz

Ricardo Pietreczko 0-4 Nathan Aspinall

Evening Session (7pm)

Stephen Bunting 4-0 Luke Woodhouse

Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Jeffrey de Graaf (ongoing)

Luke Littler (4) vs Ryan Joyce R4

08:51 PM GMT

Quarter-final place up for grabs

Luke Littler’s quest to go one step further than last year and win the World Championships continues tonight as he takes on Ryan Joyce in the last-16. The 17-year-old beat Ian White 4-1 in the third round to reach this stage of the competition whilst Joyce was victorious over Ryan Searle in a final-set decider to set up this contest with Littler. Speaking after his victory over White, Littler admitted the challenge that his competitor posed.

“It was tough. Ian [White] threw everything at me. If I hit a 180, he hit a 180 so I always had to stay switched on. I would not say there were nerves, it was a case of settling in quick. When you are 3-1 up going into the last break, you have that feeling that you are only three legs away and that’s what I said to myself.

“I watched Ryan’s [Joyce] game and he was very good. I have got to hit those doubles - 35% is not going to get me anywhere - but I know what has gone wrong.”

Ahead of his match against Joyce, Littler know he needs to be more ruthless and has admitted he is not a nice person at times at the oche.

Luke Littler during his third round match against Ian White
Luke Littler is aiming to go one step better than he did last year - Zac Goodwin/PA

“I feel like it is the same, but it is good for myself to show that I can be ruthless. I am not a nice person at times on the board. I do not think anyone else is, but it is always good to have that bit of aggression. Ian has been around for many years. He played my grandad! But for myself it is good to be ruthless, especially on that last dart.”

Joyce, who has guaranteed that he will end the year inside the world’s top 16, is confident of causing Littler problems with his strong doubles conversion rate.

“I have not got the scoring power consistently to compete with Luke Littler, but I can hit the doubles. I will go into the game thinking I can win the match, but I will also feel like I am the underdog to win. We have seen in sport so many times that the favourite does not always win, otherwise it would be boring to watch.

“If Luke plays at his absolute top level, he can beat anybody and he will brush me aside comfortably. If he just has a couple of off sets, he will find that it will be two sets all after four. I am not going to miss many doubles against him so he is going to have to play well I think - just not his absolute best!”