Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle LIVE!
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler returns to the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace tonight to meet Ryan Meikle in a second round showdown. It will be fascinating to see the 17-year-old sensation back in action, having taken the sporting world by storm in this competition with his incredible run to last year’s final, where he was eventually beaten by Luke Humphries in a thriller.
Littler has since won 10 PDC titles in total including the Premier League, Grand Slam and World Series, and much is expected of him this time around too, which brings a different kind of pressure. Still, the talented teenager has shown little sign of letting the spotlight get to him and is favourite to progress this evening.
‘The Barber’ Meikle, meanwhile, beat Fallon Sherrock in the opening round earlier this week and is currently sat at number 62 in the world rankings. This is the third match scheduled for the evening session at Ally Pally on Saturday, so the first dart is expected to be thrown at around 9pm GMT. Follow Littler vs Meikle at the World Darts Championship live below!
Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle latest news
- Start time: Approx 9pm GMT | Alexandra Palace
- How to watch: Sky Sports
- Littler vs Meikle odds
- Match prediction
- Littler takes opening set
Match report
22:48 , Dom SmithEmotional scenes at the end from Littler.
Here is Standard Sport’s match report after a dramatic win against Ryan Meikle.
Game, set and match Littler!
22:18 , Dom SmithHe comes through in the end, with a 52 finish to claim the match three sets to one.
Not his finest performance, but a truly outstanding final set to finish. He is breaking down into tears as he is roared on by the crowd. It’s emotional scenes here.
Littler is into the third round!
ONE SHOT AWAY
22:15 , Dom SmithLittler eight ninths of the way there but just centimetres away on the ninth dart. So nearly a nine-darter from the 17-year-old.
He shows the crowd just how close he was. 180s FLYING in now.
That will calm the nerves!
22:12 , Dom SmithLittler rises to a 96.00 average in set three and takes the third 3-1 on legs. 2-1 Littler now.
He’s then on for a nine-darter after two 180s to start the fourth set off. Not to be. But he’s in his groove now.
Meikle for 1-1 in the third set!
22:06 , Dom SmithA clench of the fists by Meikle. Littler had the darts but missed three to take the leg. First opportunity, Meikle takes it on double 16. One leg all! Is Littler feeling the pressure here??
Well, well, well!
21:58Meikle psyches himself up at 2-1 up in the leg and manages to squeeze Littler out, levelling the match at 1-1.
Perhaps this won’t be so straightforward for Littler...
He needs a big response from this now.
Littler in trouble?
21:52 , Dom SmithMeikle takes the first leg of the second set nicely, and then he wins a much more tense affair to go 2-0 up!
Littler in a little trouble here in the second set
First set is Littler's!
21:43 , Dom SmithA roar from Littler and he tells the crowd to calm down as he takes the opening set with the double tops.
Looks revved up does Littler, presumably a little disappointed by his early form. But he gets himself over the line, three games to two.
Littler levels once more
21:41 , Dom SmithThere are darts for Meikle to take the first set, but he misses and Littler doesn’t waste opportunities like that. The Nuke takes the fourth leg. Two all.
One leg all
21:37 , Dom SmithLittler, helped by that 180 opening visit, levels on one leg all.
Meikle and Littler then exchange consecutive 180s in leg three. Early stages here.
Meikle takes opening leg
21:34 , Dom SmithMeikle had the darts in hand and misses tops three times before then missing double ten.
He doesn’t make it easy viewing but takes the first leg. A leg of pretty poor quality.
Then Littler with the FIRST 180 of the match the begin the second leg.
Underway
21:32 , Dom SmithMeikle lands the first darts, and we’re underway at Ally Pally.
'GIVE ME THE GREEN LIGHT'
21:29 , Dom SmithAnd here is Littler, out to his famed walk-out tune of Green Light by Pitbull featuring Flo Rida and Lunchmoney Lewis.
A huge reception for the teenager. Here we go!
Here comes Ryan Meikle
21:28 , Dom SmithLittler’s opponent, fellow Englishman Ryan Meikle has arrived at Ally Pally and is up on the stage after signing a few autographs.
Nick Kenny's elation
21:26 , Dom SmithNick Kenny faces Luke Humphries in the third round, and his reaction after beating Raymond van Barneveld was of a man who had just won the biggest match of his career.
Next up... Littler.
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HE'S DONE IT
21:17 , Dom SmithAmazing.
He ended up on double four after fumbling so many chances, but Nick Kenny has knocked out Van Barneveld and is jumping for joy on the stage in celebration. He has stunned himself!
He faces none other than number one seed and defending champion Luke Humphries next!
Van Barneveld versus Kenny going the distance
21:14Nick Kenny has just had - and missed - five match darts against five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld.
The Welshman is 2-1 up on sets and we’re at 2-2 on legs in the fourth set. If he wins, it would be the biggest match of his career. Can he get over the line?
Littler on next.
A year of titles for the new kid on the block
20:58 , Dom SmithLittler has won 10 PDC titles in 2024. That places him three clear of any other player.
The new face of darts
20:44 , Dom SmithLittler has almost singlehandedly revolutionised interest in darts in the UK over the past year after he burst onto the scene as the fresh-faced 16-year-old who went all the way to the final of last year’s World Darts Championship.
A year and more than £1.1million in prize money later, and he is the face of the likes of National Rail, KP Nuts, Xbox and Boohoo Man after sealing a number of lucrative sponsorship deals.
Luke Littler recognised at SPOTY
20:38Tuesday night saw Luke Littler finish second to middle-distance runner and Olympic Gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson in the voting for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
But Littler, still just 17, won the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.
Onto the second match of the evening!
20:22 , Dom SmithWelshman Nick Kenny and Dutchman and five-time World Darts Champion Raymond van Barneveld are onto the stage ahead of their second round match.
It begins imminently. And then.... LUKE ‘THE NUKE’ LITTLER!
Ryan Joyce into the third round!
20:14 , Dom SmithA bit of a surprise just now in the first match of the evening session, as Ryan Joyce reaches the third round with a 3-1 win over Dutch 13th seed Danny Noppert.
Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle prediction
20:05 , Dom SmithThere have already been some notable shocks at the World Darts Championship, with second seed Michael Smith falling at the first hurdle and World Grand Prix champion Mike de Decker also falling to a surprise defeat.
This, though, would be the biggest of the lost if Meikle was to send Littler packing. The teenager has won ten senior titles this year, with the Premier League Darts, Grand Slam and World Series of Darts Finals among his victories.
Fans already have one eye on the prospect of a semi-final between Little and Luke Humphries, but there is plenty of work to be done before then.
Meikle averaged only 83.53 as he edged past Sherrock in the first round - a repeat of that and it will be a quick night.
Littler to win, 3-0.
How Ryan Meikle reached the second round
19:55 , Dom SmithMeikle came from a set down to beat Fallon Sherrock 3-1 earlier this week and now faces the ultimate test, as he looks to pull of what would be a huge shock.
The winner will take on Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White in the third round.
Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle odds
19:42 , Dom SmithLittler to win 3-0: 13/10
Littler to win 3-1: 21/10
Littler to win 3-2: 9/2
Meikle to win 3-0: 19/1
Meikle to win 3-1: 13/1
Meikle to win 3-2: 11/1
How to watch Littler vs Meikle
19:34You can watch all the action live on television in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, with a live stream available online to subscribers via the Sky Go app.
What time will Luke Littler be playing tonight?
19:22Littler vs Meikle is third up on the order of play for the evening session tonight on Saturday December 21, 2024.
The session is underway now, with Danny Noppert one leg all with Ryan Joyce in the opening match before crowd-favourite Raymond van Barneveld goes up against Nick Kenny.
Little and Meikle will follow that, meaning they are likely to take to the stage between 8:30pm and 9pm.
Good evening! Welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Luke Littler’s second-round clash at the World Darts Championship tonight against Ryan Meikle.
Littler, 17, is is aiming to go one better than his participation last year when he shot to fame aged 16 to reach the final only to be beaten by Luke Humphries.
We’ll be providing regular updates on Littler’s attempts to reach the third round, as he returns to the oche tonight. Stay with us!
