Luke Littler makes history on PDC World Championship debut as Williams dumps out Wright

Teenage sensation Luke Littler produced a record-breaking performance to mark a dream debut at the PDC World Championship, as Jim Williams sent Peter Wright crashing out.

Littler, the fourth youngest player to compete at the PDC World Championship, registered the highest average ever by a debutant in the sport’s biggest tournament on a momentous night at Alexandra Palace.

The 16-year-old claimed World Youth Championship glory in Minehead last month and reaffirmed his credentials with a breath-taking 3-0 rout of 2012 Lakeside Champion Christian Kist.

Littler sent out an immediate statement with a blistering three-leg burst, reeling off 14 and 15-dart holds, while pinning a clinical 91 combination on the bull to draw first blood.

The Warrington youngster continued his rampant run in the second set, following up legs of 13 and 14 darts with a fourth maximum and an 11-darter to move to the cusp of victory.

Despite Kist’s spirited resistance, Littler refused to relent, kicking off set three with a brace of 180s, before backing up a 106 outshot with a 15-darter on tops to seal a landmark success.

“It was an amazing experience – it ranks at the very top,” reflected Littler, who averaged 106, crashed in seven maximums and pinned nine of his 18 attempts at doubles.

“I knew my practice was going well, but I didn’t think that I would take that on to the stage.

“To hit the highest average on debut at the World Championship – this definitely ranks at the top of my achievements so far. It’s unbelievable.

“They said I can be better than MVG, I can’t agree or disagree. I know what Michael did at his age and I know what I’ve done at my age.”

Two-time World Champion Wright, however, became the highest profile casualty of the tournament so far after suffering his earliest exit at the World Championship since 2018.

Williams delivered a crushing 124 checkout on the bull to win a tightly-contested opening set, which prompted a change of darts from the Scot at the first interval.

Wright’s woes were compounded when he squandered seven darts to restore parity in a dramatic second set, and Williams capitalised with a clean sweep in the third to ease through to the Last 32.

“It was tough to see Peter struggling up there,” admitted Williams, who dumped out James Wade at the same stage of last year’s event.

“It’s a weird feeling. Obviously you want to win, but it’s difficult, because you’re playing somebody you normally watch and you don’t want to see them suffer.

“I’ve had two strange games so far. My focus has been terrible, but sometimes when the pressure is on you your focus is better, so hopefully there is more in the tank.”

Earlier in the day, Ross Smith survived a late scare – and the wrath of the Ally Pally wasp – to book his place in round three with a 3-1 win over Niels Zonneveld.

The former European Champion piled in seven 180s and a spectacular 170 checkout to cap off an eye-catching opening display.

Ryan Joyce put down a marker on his Ally Pally return, registering a 100.3 average to see off former CDC Continental Cup champion Alex Spellman in a high-quality encounter.

Spellman stormed to the opening set without reply, although after winning a second-set decider, Joyce claimed the last five legs in 14, 11 14, 12 and 16 darts to book a meeting with 2021 semi-finalist Stephen Bunting.

William O’Connor produced a clinical display to ease past Indian qualifier Bhav Patel, averaging 98.5 and landing a brace of ton-plus checkouts to progress in nine straight legs.

O’Connor’s former World Cup partner Steve Lennon also moved through to round two, after recovering from a two-set deficit to deny Challenge Tour runner-up Owen Bates.

Bates looked poised to celebrate a debut win after landing a brace of ton-plus finishes to lead 2-0, but an emotional Lennon fought back from the brink, winning nine of the last 12 legs to complete the comeback.

Radek Szaganski will take on Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld in Round Two, after the Pole marked his World Championship debut with a gruelling five-set victory over Marko Kantele.

Szaganski, a Players Championship winner in October, won six of the last seven legs to outlast Kantele, converting 142, 80 and 74 finishes in consecutive legs to complete the comeback.

Richard Veenstra also secured victory on his Ally Pally bow, converting 104, 112 and 142 finishes on his way to a straight-sets success against New Zealand’s Ben Robb, in a contest featuring five ton-plus checkouts.

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World Darts Championship 2023/24 Day Six Results

Wednesday December 20

Afternoon Session
Radek Szaganski 3-2 Marko Kantele (R1)
Steve Lennon 3-2 Owen Bates (R1)
William O’Connor 3-0 Bhav Patel (R1)
Ross Smith 3-1 Niels Zonneveld (R2)

Evening Session
Ryan Joyce 3-1 Alex Spellman (R1)
Richard Veenstra 3-0 Ben Robb (R1)
Christian Kist 0-3 Luke Littler (R1)
Peter Wright 0-3 Jim Williams (R2)