The last match of the night is a potential humdinger: Luke Humphries v Joe Cullen. I’m going to wrap this blog up so that I can enjoy it as a punter. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight!
Littler will play Brendan Dolan on New Year’s Day for a place in the semi-finals. Dolan is the kind of player you subconsciously underestimate even when you’re telling people not to underestimate him. He is really good and has taken out Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson in the past week. But if Littler plays like he did tonight, he’ll win. He’ll win.
Updated
Luke Littler’s numbers tonight
105.01 average
50 per cent on doubles
9 180s
14 legs to Barney’s nine
16 years of age
It’s almost impossible to overhype this kid. We’ve never seen the like.
Updated
A word on Barney, who played a solid game throughout (average 98.64, 45 per cent on the doubles) and was admirably gracious in defeat. I’m not sure everyone would have taken it so well.
“How about them apples?” writes J.R. in Illinois. “After most of Littler’s visits to the board I found myself groaning salaciously then laughing. He doesn’t do the right things at the right times, he does the right things all the time. Mercy.”
His maturity is astonishing. Even not going for the bull when he had the chance to finish the match with a 170. Most 36-year-olds would have struggled to resist that temptation.
Luke Littler's reaction
Unbelievable. I just… I dunno what to say. I went 2-0 up, I went 3-0 up, then I said to my family, “Three legs away and I’m over the line.” And… I’ve done it.
At the end he said, “You can go all the way, I hope you go all the way” and he said “thank you”. He’s a true gentleman, Raymond, and I respect him very well.
[Have you pictured yourself lifting the trophy?] No. I just looked at the draw and saw Brendan [Dolan], then either Chris Dobey, who has the same management, or Rob Cross. I fancy myself, I do fancy myself. It’d be good if Chris and I could have a ZXF semi-final, but let’s just focus on Brendan.
The crowd were unbelievable. They were singing Walking in a Littler Wonderland and Barney Army; they were on both our sides. I’m just so glad to get over the line. After I do all the media, I’ll see my family and chill out for a bit.
Updated
That was a mighty performance from Luke Littler, easily his best of the tournament, because Barney maintained an average around 100 throughout. But Littler was just too good: his match average was a crazy 105.01. He is 16 years old.
Updated
This is quite amazing. With Barney nowhere, Littler had a shot at bull for a 170 to seal the match. He took his time and then chose the pragmatic option, going for single 10 to set up tops. He hit D10 by accident, but it didn’t matter: he returned to hit D15 to complete another nerveless 13-darter.
In the final set, under the greatest pressure of his career, he averaged 113.
LITTLER BEATS VAN BARNEVELD 4-1!
He’s done it!
Van Barneveld 2-2 Littler (sets 1-3) Superb from Barney, who starts with three successive 140s and eventually goes out in 15 darts. But now Luke Littler will throw for the match.
Van Barneveld 1-2 Littler (sets 1-3) A ninth 180 propels Littler to a 11-dart hold of throw. He’s one set away from an astonishing victory. Oh and he’s averaging 105.
Van Barneveld 1-1 Littler (sets 1-3) With Barney on 24, Littler hits another 180 to leave 44. Barney just goes out on D6, last dart in hand, to stay alive. The pressure Littler is applying is just relentless.
Van Barneveld 0-1 Littler (sets 1-3) With Barney nowhere, Littler declines a shot on the bull. He returns to take out tops for another routine 13-darter. It’s preposterous.
The players are back on stage. Littler has the darts in set five; he needs three holds of throw to reach the quarter-finals.
“I know it’s indulgent, and I wouldn’t normally, but seeing as it’s a darts blog, our beloved dog Jocky left us yesterday after 15 wonderful years,” writes Simon McMahon. “He was small in stature, but with a big personality. Maybe you can guess who we named him after?”
Ah man, that’s really sad. I hope you’ll eventually get a new dog. Luke the Nuke has a ring to it.
Barney wins the fourth set 3-2!
Littler hits another maximum to leave 187 after six, but he doesn’t get a shot at double after two trebleless visits. Barney, who stayed in the leg by getting at least one treble on every visit, coolly hits D6 to stay alive and then walks off for the break with a gentle smile on his face. Sets: Van Barneveld 1-3 Littler
Updated
Van Barneveld 2-2 Littler (sets 0-3) A comfortable leg for Littler. Right, this is it. Barney has to hold throw or he is out of the World Championship.
Van Barneveld 2-1 Littler (sets 0-3) Barney is hanging on by the skin of his teeth. Littler just misses bull for a 170 – but then he misses two more at double on the next visit and Barney returns to take out 41 for an 18-dart skin-saver. Sheesh.
Updated
Van Barneveld 1-1 Littler (sets 0-3) Littler takes out 90 in two darts to hold and Barney is now very close to the point of no return. If he doesn’t hold here, Littler will be throwing for the match in the next leg.
Van Barneveld 1-0 Littler (sets 0-3) Barney holds in 13 darts. He’s played really well, with no head-shaking or sulking, yet he’s being thrashed by a 16-year-old.
Littler wins the third set 3-2!
What the hell are we watching? Littler rams in his fifth 180 to leave 190 after six and eventually hits tops for a 13-darter. He averaged 110 in that set. Numbers are all I have, because this is utterly without precedent. Van Barneveld 0-3 Littler
Updated
Van Barneveld 2-2 Littler (sets 0-2) Littler responds to those four missed darts at double by starting with a max on Barney’s throw. Barney wrests back control only to miss two darts at D16. Littler takes out 65 on tops in two darts and is now throwing for a 3-0 lead!
BARNEY BREAKS! Van Barneveld 2-1 Littler (sets 0-2) The first twist of the match. Littler gets down to 181 after six darts but then misses four at double. Barney cleans up 80 in two darts to get his first break of the match.
Van Barneveld 1-1 Littler (sets 0-2) Barney isn’t playing badly at all; he’s averaging over 100 and has taken out 50 per cent of his doubles. But he is having to do special things just to hold: he finishes 127 on the bull with Littler waiting for another break.
Van Barneveld 0-1 Littler (sets 0-2) This is disgusting. Littler begins the third set with a 12-darter on throw, culminating in two double tops to finish 100. Truly, we have never seen the like.
“Hi Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Gutted that Anderson lost, though fair play to Dolan, you don’t beat Price and then Gary in consecutive matches by being lucky. Hope this match is as good. And tell me I can’t be the only one who finds it impossible not to think of 1978 News of the World Championship winner Dirk Diggler every time the 16 year old darts sensation steps up to the oche?”
Well, I hadn’t thought of it at all until you shoved it into my subconscious just now. Cheers!
Littler wins the second set 3-1!
Luke Littler taking Barney to the cleaners! He has clinched the second set with a glorious 12-darter: 140, 133, 180 and a 48 checkout on tops.
Barney actually has the higher match average now, yet Littler is leading 6-2 in legs. He has the timing of a 36-year-old.
Updated
Van Barneveld 1-2 Littler (sets 0-1) A much needed hold for Barney, with Littler back on 210. But now Littler is throwing for the set.
Van Barneveld 0-2 Littler (sets 0-1) Barney nicks the darts on the Littler throw. Littler yanks them back with a 140, then misses D12 for a spectacular 144. No matter: with Barney unable to get down to a double, he comes back to finish on D3 and move within one leg of a two-set lead.
Littler breaks! Van Barneveld 0-1 Littler (sets 0-1) This is getting silly. Littler, on 170, starts with a single 5 but then hits back-to-back T20s to leave 45 and put serious pressure on Barney. He misses one dart at double; Littler hits single 5, deliberately this time, and pins tops first dart. He’s awesome.
Littler wins the first set 3-1!
Littler breaks in 11 darts to take the first set in quick time. It was a brilliant leg: 140, 140, 139, then T14 and tops. Barney lifts his bototm lip and nods respectfully. It’s been a nerveless start from Littler, who averaged 104 in the set to Barney’s 97 and missed only one dart at double.
Updated
Van Barneveld 1-2 Littler (sets 0-0) Both players have started nicely – the odd stray dart but plenty of trebles as well. Barney puts a bit of pressure on the throw by hitting 135 to leave 61, but Littler returns to pin D10 with his first dart.
Van Barneveld 1-1 Littler (sets 0-0) Barney hits his second 180 en route to an ultimately comfortable hold. He missed a couple of doubles but Littler wasn’t on a finish.
Van Barneveld 0-1 Littler (sets 0-0) A flying start, with both players hitting a maximum on their second visit. Littler takes out 50 in two darts for an assured 14-dart hold.
Updated
Luke Littler looks relaxed as he walks on to a song I don’t understand. Greenlight by Pitbull, it says here. Barney also looks pretty serene as he strolls on to Eye of the Tiger. The two men players embrace warmly and then get down to business. Littler will throw first.
Now it’s time for the main event, a match between the players ranked 29 and 164 in the world. I say that not to sneer but to emphasise how brilliantly bonkers this is.
Dolan has reached only one quarter-final before: 2019, when he was well beaten by Nathan Aspinall. He is a superior player now – his average is usually around 95 and his timing has never been better.
Brendan Dolan beats Gary Anderson 4-3!
Extraordinary drama at Ally Pally! Dolan has broken Anderson to win the final set 3-1, though that doesn’t tell the story of an impossibly tense final leg.
With Anderson on 128, Dolan hit a 180 to leave 63. Anderson nailed two T18s before wiring D10, Dolan missed two match darts – but then Anderson missed three more on D5. That allowed Dolan to hit D3 and clinch one of the greatest wins of his career.
When the draw was made, we were all salivating at the prospect of Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson in the last 16. Not on Brendan’s watch. He has taken care of both of them and will now play Luke Littler or Raymond van Barneveld for a place in the semi-bloody-finals.
Updated
Dolan 3-3 Anderson (legs 2-1) Dolan misses D12 for a 144 with Anderson waiting on 11 for a break – but then Anderson misses two at D4 himself! This is pulsating stuff. Anderson is now throwing to stay in the competition.
Updated
Dolan 3-3 Anderson (legs 1-1) My word, Anderson has just popped the bull to take out a crucial 82. Dolan was waiting on 70 for a 2-0 lead.
Dolan wins the sixth set! That’s an outstanding response from Dolan, who averaged 109 in the set to break back. For the first time this year, a last-16 match is going to a deciding leg. Dolan 3-3 Anderson
Dolan 2-3 Anderson (legs 2-0) Brendan Dolan won’t go away. He broke Anderson in the first leg of set six and now has a helluva chance to take it to a decider.
Anderson takes the fifth set. He’s one away, having averaged 107 in that set.
Updated
Anderson breaks! He’s 2-1 up in the fifth set and throwing for a 3-2 lead.
Anderson wins the fourth set 3-1! Dolan had a dart at the bull to break Anderson and go 2-1 up in the fourth set. Instead Anderson held and then clinched the set with a majestic 11-darter on Dolan’s throw. Anderson, suddenly rampant, is the strong favourite now. Dolan 2-2 Anderson
Anderson wins the third set! Gary Anderson is right back in it. He came from 2-0 down to take the third set against the throw, clinching it with a terrific 13-darter. In the previous leg Dolan missed one dart at D16 for the set. Ominously for him, Anderson has started peppering treble 20. Dolan 2-1 Anderson
Updated
Dolan 2-0 Anderson (legs 1-0) Dolan isn’t just beating Anderson – he’s hammering him. A comfortable hold makes it seven legs out of eight so far. Anderson, averaging just 85, has no rhythm.
Dolan wins the second set! Well, well. Gary Anderson has a great chance to break back – he was on 121 with Dolan nowhere, and he threw five. Single one, single one, single three. Eventually Anderson missed tops for a 116 and Dolan took out 100 with two darts.
If Anderson loses here, then one of Brendan Dolan, Luke Littler or Raymond van Barneveld will reach the semi-finals. They’re all fine players in different ways, but you’d have got very long odds on that three nights ago with Anderson and Gerwyn Price in that part of the draw.
Gary Anderson is in bother here. Brendan Dolan has just broken him to go 2-1 up in the second set and is now throwing for a two-set lead.
The rough guide to… Luke Littler
When Barney won his last world title, beating Phil Taylor in the greatest game of all time on New Year’s Day 2007, Luke Littler was 20 days away from being born.
Preamble
Welcome hardcore darts fans, welcome casual observers. You don’t need to be an arrers addict to be captivated by the story of Luke Littler, the 16-year-old who is making history at the World Championship. At around 8.45pm tonight, this kebab-loving phenom will play Raymond van Barneveld, 40 years his senior, for a place in the quarter-finals. Forty years.
Littler’s precociousness was common knowledge within darts, but hardly anybody expected him to make such a splash in his first year at Alexandra Palace. He demolished Christian Kist with an average of 106.12, a record for a debutant, and summoned enough brilliance and resilience to beat Andrew Gilding and Matt Campbell. Only Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson have lost fewer than Littler’s two sets.
While it helps that the draw has opened up – Littler was scheduled to play James Wade in the last round and Peter Wright tonight – his achievements are entirely without precedent. No 16-year-old has reached this stage before, and now he is odds-on favourite to beat a five-time world champion.
It’s easy to overlook how big this is for Barney, who hasn’t reached the quarter-finals since 2017-18. He looked excellent in beating Radek Szaganski, less so when labouring past Jim Williams yesterday afternoon.
The result may depend on who deals best with a peculiar mental strain: Littler is facing one of his heroes, Barney will be up against an unusually hostile Ally Pally crowd. It’s going to be emotional.
The winner will play Brendan Dolan or Gary Anderson in the last eight. They’re on stage at the moment, but you don’t care about them, do you, I bet you don’t even know what Mensur Suljovic’s favourite double is and Dolan has just taken the first set 3-0. It was on throw but it’s still a perfect start for him.
Updated
