with videoGetting applause from your opponent. It doesn’t happen often, but it did with 16-year-old prodigy Luke Littler on Wednesday evening. The English top talent qualified for the fourth round of the World Cup at the expense of Matt Campbell (4-1). A very nice poster may await: a clash with five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld (56). Something that Michael van Gerwen also who easily won against Richard Veenstra, makes a lot of sense. “I think Raymond will demolish him.”
Tim Hartman December 27 2023 Last update: 27-12-23, 23:14
Surely things will get a bit worse at some point with a 16-year-old darts player on the highest darts podium? When do nerves strike? These are the thoughts that arise when you see Luke Littler at work at Alexandra Palace. After the 106.12 average in the first round against Christian Kist (a record average for a World Cup debutant), the average in the second round against Andrew Gilding was slightly less (92.65), but in the third round The Nuke simply rolled over his opponent again. (with an average of 97.19 this time).
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• Raymond van Barneveld will soon face 16-year-old prodigy Luke Littler? ‘I was in my diaper cheering like Barney’
After Littler had already made it 1-0 in the first set, everyone rubbed themselves in the eyes again after the second set. In that second set there was an average of 112.73 on the board for the young Englishman and a finishing percentage of 75 percent. Campbell could only clap and make a face that betrayed a thought like: ‘Yes, what on earth can be done about this?’.
“Fantastic boy,” Van Gerwen complimented the 16-year-old Englishman. Van Gerwen came into action after Littler and the youngster is often compared to Mighty Mike. “He has something about him like: I don’t care about the rest. You also need that if you want to be good at this sport. I think he is a little less good than me in terms of talent, but I enjoy watching it. The sport also needs that: you have people retiring and new people emerging so I hope Van Barneveld wins against Jim Williams, because I’m looking forward to the clash between them. Although I think Raymond will destroy him, he has too many qualities and too much experience.”
Luke Litter. © PDC
There were opportunities for Campbell in the third set, but the Canadian – who flew back and forth to Canada for Christmas – squandered a 2-0 lead in legs and subsequently failed to capitalize on the double 20 with the score at 2-2. That gave Littler the chance to make it 3-0 in sets and that is exactly what happened.
Yet the mega talent also received a slap on the nose in the fourth set. Campbell threw out 120 while the Englishman already received a match dart and the Canadian forced a fifth set. “Ouch,” Littler showed that this hurt. In that fifth set, however, Littler immediately showed a beautiful feat with a beautiful 164 finish. Campbell made it 2-1, but in the end there was really no stopping Campbell, who was responsible for the surprising elimination of James Wade earlier this World Cup.
And so a place in the last sixteen now awaits the 16-year-old prodigy: the fourth round. A possible duel with none other than Raymond van Barneveld, the man who won his last world title twenty days before Littler’s birth, awaits. Then Barney still has to beat Jim Williams for a while, on Friday afternoon in the third round. Does Littler himself have a preference? “Yes, Van Barneveld of course, it would be great to play against him.”
Game schedule and results World Cup darts
• Look at Here is the complete schedule for the Darts World Cupincluding the day-by-day program and all results.
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2023-12-27 22:14:00
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