World Darts Championship LIVE: Latest updates as Luke Littler demolishes Raymond van Barneveld in last-16
The 56-year-old Dutchman crashed out as the 16-year-old Englishman won 4-1
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Your support makes all the difference.Teenage sensation Luke Littler continued his historic World Darts Championship journey by downing hero Raymond van Barneveld to reach the quarter-finals.
The 16-year-old has set the Alexandra Palace tournament alight on debut and is the youngest player ever to reach the last eight after a stunning 4-1 win. He showed maturity and talent way beyond his tender years to get past the five-time world champion, who he used to imitate in front of the television as a three-year-old.
Luke Humphries then clinched a classic that came down to a sudden death leg against Joe Cullen. Both men had darts at winning the match but it has the world number three who managed to get through to the quarter-finals.
Brendan Dolan also beat his second former world champion in three days when he ousted Gary Anderson 4-3. The Northern Irishman, who dumped out Gerwyn Price in the third round, was heading out as Anderson rallied from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 but he fought back to claim the final two sets and reach the last eight.
Relive all the action from the World Darts Championship below:
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-4 Luke Littler
“Unbelievable. I don’t know what to say.” said Littler after the match, “I went 2-0 up, then 3-0 and said to my family I’m three legs away.
“[Barney] said ‘you can go all the way, and I hope you go all the way’. I fancy myself but lets just focus on Brendan [Dolan who he faces in the next round].
“After I do the media, I’ll go see my family and just chill out now.”
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-4 Luke Littler
134, 134, 63 leaves Littler with 170 to beat Van Barneveld. He then nails treble 20, hits it again and then hits double 10.
There’s 30 left for the teenager with Van Barneveld nowhere near. Littler has three darts but needs one to take out double 15!
Raymond van Barneveld has been blown away by Luke Littler. That is a spectacular display of darts from the 16-year-old who progresses into the quarter-finals.
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 (2-2) Luke Littler
Barney seems to have honed in on the treble 20s now and leaves 81 after nine darts. He takes 56 and leaves 25 though Littler isn’t on a finish.
Barney hits 9 then double 8 to force Littler to throw for the win.
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 (1-2) Luke Littler
140, 180, 140 for Littler leaves him with 47 to hold throw for a second time. He does and takes another 11 dart leg to move within one of the match.
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 (1-1) Luke Littler
Van Barneveld isn’t going away though. His main focus is to hold his throw here and he absolutely does with a double 6 hit on his last throw.
Littler needs to be patient.
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 (0-1) Luke Littler
The action continues and Littler needs to be careful. The advantage is with him in this set but he needs to make sure he can hold his throw.
Another 180 will help!
Littler leaves 124, and scores 84 for the set up on double 20. He misses it but comes down to nail double 10.
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 (0-0) Luke Littler
Boom! Raymond van Barneveld takes the set with some fantastic scoring but Littler had the chance to close out 128 which he didn’t take.
Barney is on the board but he’s right up against it as Littler has the darts in the fifth set.
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 0-3 (2-2) Luke Littler
Littler has six darts from 148 to win the leg but only manages to score 56 leaving 92. Littler slips into the 5 but responds with a treble 17.
He goes wide of double 18 and Barney can’t respond. Littler forces a deciding leg on his next visit. Can he break Barney to win the match?
World Darts Championship LIVE
Raymond van Barneveld 0-3 (2-1) Luke Littler
Littler leaves 170 and almost takes it out. He hits both treble 20s but just misses the bullseye. With 25 left, Littler fails to take it out and Barney fights back to hold onto his throw.
It took him 18 darts to win the leg and Littler missed three to win it.
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