Luke Littler comes through last leg thriller with Ryan Joyce to set up World Championship quarter-final vs Aspinall

LUKE LITTLER heads into the New Year just THREE GAMES away from becoming the youngest world darts champion in history.

One of the greatest debut years in professional sport was capped by Littler with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Ryan Joyce that went the distance in the last game of 2024.

Luke Littler beat Ryan Joyce to reach the quarter-finals of the world championshipsGetty

The teenager will now play Nathan Aspinall in the last eightPA

Joyce pushed Littler but could not compete with the teenager’s big scoringAP

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But 2025 could be even BETTER if he goes all the way and picks up the Sid Waddell Trophy late on Friday night.

At 17 years old, he is aiming to be the youngest person to be champion of the world and how extraordinary that will be.

Nathan Aspinall, his stable mate, will have something to say about that in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day but the Littler bandwagon continues.

Speaking after beating Joyce, Littler said: “Honestly, I don’t know how I did that. I said to Ryan there, he hit everything at me.

“I broke Ryan in the first set and he hit me back. I broke him again and it’s then 2-2.

“I just wanted him to miss! I had a lot of chances at the doubles while Ryan wasn’t close. I am happy to win.

“I wasn’t nervous, it was adrenalin. In that last leg, just hold your own. It shows I can hit double 12.

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Littler is the favourite to lift the trophy this yearRex

He kissed his mum before making his way on stage for the matchPA

“I didn’t end the year with five nine-darters. Hopefully I can start the year off strong and get a nine for everyone.

“Nathan and I have played plenty of times in the Premier League. I will chill now and come back on New Year’s Day.

“I want to start the year off strong and get that win off Nathan.”

Littler was fast asleep when his biggest rival, the world No.1 Luke Humphries, was knocked out by Snakebite Peter Wright on Sunday evening.

He only discovered the shock result when he woke up at 1.30am and checked the scores on his phone.

The Warrington ace knows “all eyes” would be on him now and the pressure will simply ramp up – especially as all the bookies installed him as ODDS-ON to win the title.

For Littler’s games, the PDC have used an extra security guard on the walk-ons – three not the normal two – to make sure nobody got near him or his rival.

But the crowd reaction was the same – everybody was singing his name and giving him a hero’s welcome.

Big Geordie Joyce, 39, is known as Relentless and has Tetris shapes on his flights but it was his younger opponent who started in relentless fashion.

In less than seven minutes of playing time, Littler wrapped up the first set with a 93.27 average.

But this turned into a proper ding-dong battle and Joyce levelled up in leg five of set two with a 116.

Littler’s 108 average in set three and opening 66 finish had him roaring in delight but he was then shaking his head in disgust when Joyce made it 2-2.

The No.4 seed came back early from the TV break and had some free practice throws before the action officially restarted.

World No.33 Joyce opened up with a superb 117 but Littler’s 104 average boosted his confidence and he was screaming in celebration as he claimed set five.

After Littler missed match dart on double top, Joyce nailed a key double 16 and the contest went to a seventh-set decider – the first time that had happened for him at Ally Paly.

Littler – who had six perfect darts in leg one of set seven – sealed his passage on double 12 on his fourth match dart but the final-set average of 110.89 was magnificent.

If there was to be any disappointment it is that Littler did not end the calendar year with a record fifth nine-darter, which he had hoped to achieve.

Perhaps he can leave that wonderful feat for the latter stages.

Happy Nuke Year, Mr Littler.