Luke Littler advances in PDC World Darts Championship
Luke Littler secured his place in the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship on Sunday evening, defeating David Davies 3-0 at Alexandra Palace despite not reaching his best performance, reports BritPanorama.
The 18-year-old defending champion acknowledged that luck played a significant role, as the Welsh underdog squandered 16 attempts at doubles throughout the match. Littler remarked, “I was getting away with it, he missed 16 darts at double, but every one he missed was crucial; if he hit them, it was a completely different game.”
This victory extended Littler’s winning streak to 15 consecutive senior matches, dating back to late October. Davies, ranked 144th in the world and employed as an NHS area manager from Denbigh, initially held the upper hand in the opening set but faltered with five missed opportunities to claim it, seemingly daunted by facing the sport’s prominent figure.
As the match progressed, Davies missed crucial chances again in the second set, failing to take a 2-1 lead in legs. Once he let these opportunities slip, Littler found his rhythm, raising his average above 100, highlighted by a striking 144 checkout in the second set.
Earlier in the evening, the tournament witnessed a major upset as Gerwyn Price, the 2021 champion, was eliminated by Wesley Plaisier, ranked 92nd globally. Price’s defeat came as a shock, particularly as he had bested Littler six times in their previous encounters in 2024 and 2025. Plaisier expressed disbelief at his victory, stating, “I still can’t believe it, I’m so over the moon. It’s my biggest victory ever, I don’t know how I did it.” This result marked Price’s earliest exit from the championship in seven years.
Littler will return to Alexandra Palace after Christmas to face Mensur Suljovic, who overcame Joe Cullen 3-1 in a match marred by allegations of deliberate slow play. The teenage champion is in pursuit of joining the elite ranks of Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson as the only players to successfully defend a PDC world title. “Everyone is on about the £1 million; it’s there in front of you, but back-to-back is the only thing I want,” Littler stated, underscoring his ambitions.
The atmosphere in Alexandra Palace is heating up as the competition progresses, a reminder of how swiftly fortunes can shift in the world of darts. For Littler, who thrives under pressure, the countdown to his next match against Suljovic promises to be another thrilling encounter.
