By Jonathan Veal, PA
Teenage sensation Luke Littler’s incredible rise continues after he became the youngest player to reach the fourth round of the World Championship.
The 16-year-old has taken the Alexandra Palace tournament by storm and wowed an adoring crowd with a sensational performance to destroy Matt Campbell 4-1.
Littler, who won the World Youth Championship in November, will pocket a guaranteed £35,000 but will have his sights on lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy in what would be one of the greatest ever sporting stories.
LITTLER GOES ON, AGAIN 🤯
It's another breathtaking display from Luke Littler as he smashes Matt Campbell 4-1 to reach the Fourth Round at Alexandra Palace.
It will be Raymond van Barneveld or Jim Williams, next!
How far can he go?
📺 https://t.co/f3RU9WTIoD#WCDarts | R3 pic.twitter.com/IZm6m3Ypef
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2023
It is going to take something special to stop him as he is producing form which defies his tender age.
He averaged 97.19, threw eight 180s and produced three 100-plus checkouts, including a majestic 164 in the fifth set.
A dream last-16 tie with his hero Raymond van Barneveld could be waiting for him on Saturday, if the Dutchman can beat Jim Williams on Friday night.
After disposing of Christian Kist and UK Open champion Andrew Gilding, the teenager returned home for Christmas where he sacrificed time on his Xbox after dinner for a practice session on the board.
And that paid dividends as he made an electric start, winning the first six legs to roar into a 2-0 lead.
Campbell, who returned home to Canada over the festive period before arriving back in the UK on Boxing Day, looked to have a foothold in the third set as he took the first two legs, but a relentless Littler reeled off the next three to move 3-0 up.
He had a match dart to seal a 4-0 whitewash but suffered a rare bout of inaccuracy, which allowed Campbell to get on the board.
Littler hit back in the fifth set, though, hitting two 100-plus checkouts on his way to sealing a famous win.
Speaking on stage after the match, Littler said: “It’s unbelievable. I only wanted to win one game and I have won three and I have battled through it. I am so happy.
“I just let my darts do the talking, everyone on social media saying, ‘He’s this age’, but I let my darts do the talking.
“As soon as I won that first game I have just settled.”
