LUKE Littler emerged from a classic contest to reach the World Darts Championship quarter-finals.

The teenager was pushed all the way to a deciding set by a dogged Ryan Joyce, but he emerged victorious via a 4-3 scoreline with a match average of just over 103.

He will now face Nathan Aspinall on New Year's Day for a place in the semi-finals, with the winner facing either Peter Wright or Stephen Bunting.

READ MORE > Confirmed quarter-final schedule including Luke Littler vs Nathan Aspinall

Luke Littler celebrates sealing victory over Ryan Joyce (Image: John Walton/PA Wire) Littler strode onto stage with his typical confidence with the crowd chanting his name, and that confidence certainly showed early on.

His previous victories over Ian White and Ryan Meikle had seen him start slowly, but starting both of the first two legs with 180s showed the 17-year-old was dialled in as he quickly took command.

Even though Joyce did get himself on the board with a 12-dart hold, it merely delayed the inevitable as Littler took the opening set 3-1.

However, Joyce served a reminder that he was ready to take any chances Littler was willing to give him, which was evidenced perfectly in a set in which neither player was able to hold throw.

A magnificent 116 checkout from the Tynesider pulled the match level and took his success rate on the outer ring to an impressive 80 per cent compared to Littler’s 26 per cent.

As if angered by losing a set in which he averaged 104, the teenager took out 66 to break Joyce’s throw before consolidating with a hold.

He missed a dart at tops for a clean sweep of the third set, but he wrapped it up in his next visit to retake the lead.

Luke Littler during his fourth-round clash with Ryan Joyce (Image: John Walton/PA Wire) Back came Joyce again, though, as he once again showed his prowess on the doubles, taking advantage of Littler’s failure to checkout 30 on his own throw to break and then consolidate.

An authoritative hold kept Littler in it and he lurked on 12 looking for the break that would keep him in the set, but a nerveless 86 checkout from Joyce levelled things up.

Littler was being made to work and another ton-plus checkout – this time 117 – demonstrated Joyce’s growing confidence.

However, the teenager found another gear – a strong hold plus a crucial break put him in control of the set, which he took 3-1 with a checkout of 68 having taken his maximum count into double figures.

Those expecting a procession from there, however, were to be mistaken as Joyce again found a way through the Littler throw before consolidating with a hold.

Littler held on and then took out tops to move within a leg of victory, and he was to get a match dart at the same segment in the next leg that proved just too high.

Joyce did not let him off, pinning double 16 to send the match to a deciding set.

It was high time for Littler to find his best form and with two 180s to start the Joyce leg, it was just the tonic.

He could not give the crowd the nine-darter they craved but very much like his opener against Meikle, he had found top gear when he really needed it.

Littler closed out a vital break of throw before holding again to push Joyce to the edge of the cliff.

Two more chances to win the match were missed, allowing Joyce to hold and force Littler to throw out the match, which he did by pinning double 12 with his fourth match dart to edge a stunning contest with a last-set average of 110.

Littler is congratulated by beaten opponent Ryan Joyce (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)