Luke Littler begins his quest for PDC World Darts Championship glory tonight with the biggest name in the sport taking on Ryan Meikle in the second round.
With reigning champion Luke Humphries, who edged him out in last year’s final, breezing through on the opening night in just 16 minutes, a lot is expected of the 17-year-old ahead of a potential semi-final showdown between the friendly rivals.
‘The Nuke’ will surely have no problems here, though the outsider admits he is treating tonight’s second round like a cup final after beating Fallon Sherrock earlier this week.
Elsewhere, look out for the legendary Raymond van Barneveld and dark horse Damon Heta in a stacked evening session.
Follow all the action with our live blog below at Ally Pally on Day 7 of the World Championship:
World Darts Championship Day 7 evening session
Last year’s runner-up Luke Littler takes on Ryan Meikle in third match of session
World Darts Championship 2025 schedule, order of play, scores and results
Ryan Joyce upsets world No. 13 Danny Noppert to reach third round
Raymond van Barneveld beaten 3-1 by Wales’ Nick Kenny
22:05 , Mike Jones
Another maximum for Littler may show that he’s clicking into gear. He leaves 167 with Meikle not on a finish. Littler fails to hit a treble and leaves 110 with Meikle on 152.
Littler only hits 54 and has 56 left. Meikle needs to be perfect, he hits the first two treble 20s then misses double 16. Littler fails to hit 56!
Meikle lands his finish and hits back. Big response.
22:03 , Mike Jones
This next set could be a big one. If Littler wins it then the match should go his way. Both players have been broken though and the pressure has been ramped up.
Meikle has the throw in the third set. Their averages are both in the 93s with Meikle playing the better darts.
Littler hits a 180, his fifth maximum, to take control of the first leg against the darts. He’s first to a finish at 147 and will have six darts at it.
He almost takes it out in three but misses the double 15. Meikle puts some pressure on but Littler takes one dart to hit the double and break throw.
21:56 , Mike Jones
Meikle leaves himself 167 and is the first to a finish. He hits a 95 and has three darts to take out 72. The first lands in the treble 16 but he misses two efforts at double 12.
Littler doesn’t punish him and Meikle comes back to the board and takes out the 24 finish to level the match.
Game on.
21:53 , Mike Jones
Littler is calm, or it seems like he is at least. Two big visits and a 52 get him down to 208 from nine darts and he’s got a healthy lead over Meikle.
A 134 leaves him with 74 to win the leg. Littler takes out treble 18, then double 10 to get on the board. He needs to break Meikle now though.
21:51 , Mike Jones
Littler has had 11 trips without hitting a treble, Meikle just four so far. A big 140 from Meikle gives him an opportunity to take out 116 but strays into the treble 7 and the chance goes.
Littler needs 110 but can’t finish it. Meikle needs to hit double tops for the win. He does and moves two legs up. The pressure is on Littler now.
21:49 , Mike Jones
A double, double tops finish gives Littler the first set. He’ll have the throw in the second set though and will want to get going from the start.
He opens up with a 44 though, that’s not strong especially with Meikle landing a 140. Meikle then hits a 137 against the darts and Littler is struggling.
Miekle is first to a finish and needs 133, he’ll have six darts to take this out and sets up with a 93. Meikle has three attempts at double tops, he needs one.
It’s a break of throw.
21:45 , Mike Jones
That’s what Littler can do. He can swing matches with one leg. Ryan Meikle will feel hard doen to as he played well in that set and is now behind.
21:42 , Mike Jones
Wow! Meikle lands 180, Littler does the same!
The follow up throw for Meikle is 100, Littler takes out 136. Meikle’s next trip leaves him with a 164 finish, Littler sets up to checkout 100.
Meikle doesn’t get a shot at winning, Littler punishes him! His first dart hits 20, the next lands in the double 20, he follows it in to claim the set!
Incredible.
21:40 , Mike Jones
Ryan Meikle lands double 12 in 13 darts to move back into the lead in the first set. He’s averaging over 90 and has looked decent.
Luke Littler needs a response. He lands a 180 first up in the next leg, which he has to win. A 138 follows to leave 140 for the checkout.
Three darts land in the 20 and he requires 80 on the next trip up. Meikle leaves 75 and has a chance as Littler misses out.
Meikle has two darts to clinch the set… he misses! Littler takes out double two and levels the set.
21:37 , Mike Jones
21:36 , Mike Jones
In response Luke Littler lands five perfect darts to move from 501 to 186 then adds 89 and leaves 97 for the checkout. Littler is finding his rhythm.
Littler has time, he takes off another 45 and has 52 to finish. One dart hits 12, the next lands in double 20. He’s on the board.
21:34 , Mike Jones
Ryan Meikle starts off the match with the throw and lands a couple of trebles to get moving quickly. Littler starts a little slowly as he looks to hone in on the treble 20.
Meikle hits 20, hits 16 and slides above the double 20 to miss out on a 76 checkout. Littler is nowhere near him in this leg and Meikle misses out on three more darts to finish.
It takes him until double 2 to hold his throw but he manages it!
21:29 , Mike Jones
Here comes Luke Littler!
The walk on music blares and he gives his mum a cuddle just before heading onto the stage. The crowd have been waiting for The Nuke to get his campaign going.
Can he get the job done tonight?
21:20 , Mike Jones
Next up is the main event of the evening as Luke Littler takes to the stage to face Ryan Meikle.
Meikle defeated Fallon Sherrock in the first round and now has to face one of the best players in the world at present. Littler is the favourite with the bookmakers to win the tournament this year but will know he needs to perform in this second round clash.
21:19 , Mike Jones
Nick Kenny lands the latest darts upset of the World Championship by taking out Raymond van Barneveld. It’s the Welshman’s biggest win of his career and sets up a clash with reigning champion Luke Humphries after Christmas.
What a match.
21:15 , Mike Jones
Oh Kenny has it. He easily outscores Van Barneveld to leave himself 61 but doesn’t check it out. On his next trip up he needs 32 and slides all three darts wide of the target.
Barney fails to take out 132 and gives Kenny another go. He’s missed four darts to win the match. He misses double 16, misses double 8 and the lands double 4!
Nick Kenny has beaten Raymond van Barneveld!
21:12 , Mike Jones
Nick Kenny has a shot to break throw and win the match. He needs to take out 146 but slides away from the triple 20. He notches up a 100 and leaves 46 with Barney missing 60.
Kenny lands triple 10 to leave two shots at double 8. He misses them both!
Barney then lands double 10 and draws the set level at 2-2!
21:08 , Mike Jones
Barney keeps the pressure on Kenny who is starting to miss his trebles. There’s a nervous atmosphere are the Ally Pally as Barney looks to save this match.
Kenny steps up to the plate and nails a 180 and the crucial time! He’s left with 120 but doesn’t finish it and leaves 35. Barney can’t checkout and Kenny lands double 16 to move one leg away from a historic victory.
21:05 , Mike Jones
Kenny, having lost the last set easily, manages to compose himself and takes the first leg with a double 10 checkout. He’s holding himself together well as he closes in on a huge win.
Can he get over the line? Van Barneveld needs to break throw as well as holding his own. Barney tries to take out 32 to level the set at 1-1 but misses double 8.
Kenny has 103 left, he doesn’t manage it and Barney takes out the remaining eight to level things.
21:01 , Mike Jones
Van Barneveld has found his rhythm. He takes the next leg against the throw with Nick Kenny not managing to take out 120. With the advantage of throwing first, the Dutchman gets his first set on the board, winning 3-0, just about.
Is the comeback on? Nick Kenny has the darts in set four.
20:56 , Mike Jones
Can Barney get himself back into the match? He’s up against it as Nick Kenny lands a 140 to edge ahead of the Dutchman. A poor trip to the board means he hands the advantage back to Van Barneveld.
Kenny lands a 140 from 204 meaning Barney needs to take out 120. He doesn’t. Kenny has 64 left, he nails the triple 16, lands in the eight and then misses the double 4.
Barney can’t checkout, Kenny leaves two shots at double 1, misses them both. Barney takes out 36 and holds throw. Is that a turning point?
20:49 , Mike Jones
The crowd start chanting ‘Barney army!’ and the Dutchman responds to leave himself with three shots at double 20. He misses the first two but lands the last one to break!
Barney then holds throw to set up a deciding leg and Kenny sends down a 180 to start! What a move. The 31-year-old is first to a checkout at 124 but he’ll have six darts to get out of the match. He leaves himself 32 and will have three attempts to win the set.
He misses the first, he misses the second and leaves double eight. One dart at it… he gets it!
20:43 , Mike Jones
Van Barneveld is starting to throw better but Kenny is matching him throw for throw. The Welshman holds throw for the first leg of the second set then opens up with a big 180!
That puts him back in control and a break could kill off Van Barneveld’s resistance.
Nick Kenny lands a 140 to leave 52 against the throw with Barney not on a checkout. Kenny hits the 12, misses his first effort at tops then lands the second in the double 20.
He takes a two leg lead in the second set.
20:36 , Mike Jones
Work for Barney to do to rescue this match. He’s one set down after a nervous start, will he be another big name to fall at the first stage?
20:35 , Mike Jones
Kenny fails to check out 95 and misses his one shot at double 16. In response Van Barneveld misses the chance to break by slipping wide of the double 18 trying to take out 76.
Kenny offers up plenty of chances for Barney. He misses seven darts to take the set but the Dutchman can’t take advantage. He misses five attempts of his own before Kenny finally lands a double two and moves into the lead.
20:32 , Mike Jones
Kenny outscores Barney once again and gets himself down to 66 after nine darts. He then misses a simple 12 and opens the door for his opponent who checks out to get his first leg on the board.
Barney won’t panic, he’s been here and seen it all before.
20:29 , Mike Jones
Nick Kenny, a Welshman who has one of the toughest draws in the World Championship this year, gets off to the perfect start by clinching the first leg against darts royalty Raymond van Barneveld aginst the throw.
He cleans out 97 in the second leg with a triple 19, double 20 (on the second attempt). There’s a chance for him to clinch the first set now as well.
Good start.
20:14 , Jack Rathborn
Would you believe it? Noppert up 2-1 in legs, but Joyce storms back and punishes him with some clinical finishing.
And just like that, Joyce is through to the third round for the second time in his career.
Up next, a legend! Former world champion Raymond van Barneveld takes on Nick Kenny.
20:02 , Jack Rathborn
This game has flipped on its head, Joyce is up and rowdy, giving it some as the crowd go wild. He’s 2-1 up, oh my.
Noppert in some trouble, could another seed fall?
A side note, we’ve taken a while to get through three sets, a shade over 40 minutes already, keep that in mind for Littler later. We’re leaning towards 9:30pm at this rate…
19:52 , Jack Rathborn
Noppert was on a nine-darter in that set, missing the seventh treble-60. Boos ring around Ally Pally…
But a tight set sees Joyce rally and even the contest, remarkable.
He upped his average to 94.01 and then took three of six opportunities at a double, that’ll work. A lively contest this.
19:39 , Jack Rathborn
19:31 , Jack Rathborn
Noppert grabs a one-set lead, 3-1 in legs, and both men take a breather. The Dutchman is calm, but shouts towards his support: ‘Come on!’
Noppert’s average is 93.47%, with Joyce down at 87.29%. Neither man enjoying the doubles though, with Noppert’s checkout percentage at 25% and Joyce down at 20%.
19:21 , Jack Rathborn
Finally we have both men on stage, Danny Noppert v Ryan Joyce is starting shortly.
The Dutchman is the world No. 13 and a dark horse in the tournament, he has the 8th best match win percentage (65%) in the world for 2024. He’s 150/1 for the tournament though. Perhaps being slept on a little… Here are the latest odds for the tournament:
2/1 Luke Littler
5/2 Luke Humphries
13/2 Gary Anderson
9/1 Michael van Gerwen
22/1 Gerwyn Price
28/1 Wessel Nijman
30/1 Stephen Bunting
33/1 Chris Dobey
33/1 Jonny Clayton
33/1 Josh Rock
40/1 Gian van Veen
40/1 Rob Cross
40/1 Damon Heta
45/1 Damon Heta
50/1 Dimitri Van den Bergh
50/1 Nathan Aspinall
19:08 , Jack Rathborn
A reminder on tonight’s order of play and when we can expect Luke Littler on the oche.
‘The Nuke’ is on third tonight, when he takes on Ryan Meikle, meaning we have a little wait, but importantly that match will likely be done and dusted before the other big sporting event tonight when Tyson Fury bids for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia – you can follow live coverage of the boxing over here.
First up is Danny Noppert v Ryan Joyce in the second round at about 7:10pm. Then it’s Raymond van Barneveld against Nick Kenny at about 8:10pm.
Littler v Meikle is next, so we can expect the 17-year-old to start his bid for a first world title at 9:10pm.
To round off the evening of darts, Damon Heta battles Connor Scutt fourth up at Ally Pally, with that match due up at 10:10pm or later depending on the previous matches.
19:00 , Jack Rathborn
18:45 , Jack Rathborn
“I don’t know,” Littler told the Jaack’s Happy Hour Podcast when asked when he first hit a 180 with reports he was just six years old.
“I think it was 13 years old [when I first hit a nine-darter].
“I just roared, I was playing a computer bot [during lockdown].”
18:30 , Jack Rathborn
“Maybe it suits me [with eyes elsehwhere], everyone wants to get me out of the tournament,” Van Gerwen said.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the two Lukes I’ve been here for so long mate, when you do well, that’s the price you pay. You always want to be in the spotlight. It’s good.
“That’s what you want, if not, you’re not a professional. It’s as simple as that.
“Don’t put potentially breaking Phil’s record, no chance.”
18:15 , Jack Rathborn
“I can’t describe how I’m feeling, so happy,” said Alexis Toylo of the Phillippines after his debut win as the 500th different player at the World Championship. “I feel the pressure as the No.1 in Asia, I have to deliver and show I deserve that place.
“Asian darts deserves chances, we feel we can compete with everyone, it’s a matter of finishing.
“It’s special for me, I’m trying my best to play as good as I can. Good sleep, good practice and I’ll be ready.”
18:00 , Jack Rathborn
17:45 , Jack Rathborn
“My shoulder, my follow through was better, more speed to it,” says Dolan.
“It dented my confidence, so the win is relief. To play half-decent, that’s good as well.
“Definitely, it was brilliant finishing, but that’s not my best, I can score better.
“Who knows where I can go? I’d love it [the challenge of Van Gerwen next]. I want to play against the best. Biggest tournaments in the world.
“It’ll be tough, if I can do it last year [beating Gary Anderson], I can do it this year. It’s in the back of my head, on this stage, I can still do it. It’s a good amount of confidence. It’s about the throw, my shoulder, everything was good today, no loopy darts.”
17:30 , Jack Rathborn
“It was a tough one, I knew what to expect, I knew he wouldn’t play like that again, I stayed focused, don’t beat myself up, put myself under pressure,” Dobey tells the PDC.
“The 122 was a key moment, it was a had to go moment, luckily it went in.
“[The celebration] doesn’t happen very often, but people having a go, it was for them. Shots like that, if you can give it, it can get into your opponents’ head.
“You can’t dwell on things like that [last year’s loss], you just want to prepare for the next moment. I put that aside straight away, been practicing hard, my floor game has been brilliant. I’m happy where my game is at.”
17:15 , Jack Rathborn
As Noa-Lynn van Leuven approached the stage, red hair flowing and lipstick shimmering under the lights, it was hard to know what the reaction would be.
Throughout the long history of sporting crowds, from the Colosseum of Rome to this cathedral of darts just off the north circular, at their most basic level they can choose a binary response to their environment, with cheers or with boos. How would the World Championship at Alexandra Palace respond to its first transgender competitor?
A few minutes earlier there had been a gentle hum of boos as Van Leuven’s face was displayed on screen for a pre-match interview. There were a few wolf whistles as she stepped to her mark at the start of the runway. But if there were any murmurings of disapproval as she stepped on stage, they were drowned out firstly by her walkout song, “Euphoria” by Loreen, and then by the majority of giddy fans.
Even in defeat, Van Leuven wins as World Championship embraces first trans player
17:00 , Jack Rathborn
Chris Dobey looks a dangerous prospect at Ally Pally now, after taking out Alexander Merkx 3-1 to reach the third round.
He’ll face Rhys Griffin or Josh Rock next, which should be a cracker.
Dobey, the world No.15 has been tipped by many to go far, his average could make him a danger to the favourites, though his finishing must improve.
A 95.62 average is handy, but his checkout rate was 25 percent (9/36), which leaves a lot to be desired and even handed Merkx hope at one point.
16:40 , Mike Jones
The future of the Palace?
Christmas, darts and Ally Pally – they are three things that are synonymous with each other.
But whether this is the last time the famous north London venue holds the World Championship remains to be seen after PDC chief Barry Hearn hinted at moving away to satisfy demand.
The Littler effect has helped tickets sell out in record time for the 2025 tournament so a bigger venue could be on the cards, while the big financial rewards of moving to Saudi Arabia have also been mentioned.
16:20 , Mike Jones
The best of the rest
While Humphries and Littler have dominated the sport over 2024, part of their success has been due to the decline of others.
Michael van Gerwen has had a surprisingly poor year while Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright no longer challenge at the top of the game in the way they did when they became world champions.
They will be hoping they can recapture their best form on the biggest stage, but a host of lower ranked players in the other side of the draw to Humphries and Littler will be eyeing their chances of a run to the final.
16:00 , Mike Jones
Living in the Lukes’ world
The year started with a battle of the two Lukes as Humphries beat Luke Littler in the 2024 World Championship final and a strong rivalry has emerged.
They have been the best two players on the tour by some distance, winning six of the 11 televised major titles between them, while also contesting five finals.
The draw means that there will not be a repeat of the 2024 final as they are slated to meet in the semi-finals in what would be a mouth-watering battle.
15:49 , Mike Jones
We’re into the final match of the afternoon action and so far it’s been clean sweeps across the board.
Wales’ Rhys Griffin dispatched Karel Sedlacek 3-0 in the opening match and Alexis Toylo won by the same scoreline over Richard Veenstra.
Both Griffin and Toylo now advance into the second round.
Brendan Dolan, who is seeded 30th, also progressed through his second round match having beaten Lok Yin Lee 3-0 as well.
Chris Dobey will take to the stage next.
15:41 , Mike Jones
Stephen Bunting was given a huge scare before defeating Germany’s Kai Gotthardt 3-1 in the first round at the Darts World Championship.
Bunting, the reigning Masters champion, narrowly escaped falling 2-0 behind after Gotthardt missed three attempts at double eight and instead the eighth seed levelled the match at 1-1 before cruising to victory.
Gotthardt had made a flying start, landing a hat-trick of 180s and nailing all three of his attempts at double to secure the opening set.
Stephen Bunting survives scare to beat Kai Gotthardt at World Championship
15:22 , Mike Jones
First Round: Best of five sets
Second Round: Best of five sets
Third Round: Best of seven sets
Fourth Round: Best of seven sets
Quarter-Final: Best of nine sets
Semi-Final: Best of 11 sets
Final: Best of 13 sets
15:00 , Mike Jones
You can watch the PDC Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2024/25 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel from 15 December, with a live stream on Sky Go and Now TV.
14:40 , Mike Jones
Luke Littler’s first match, in the second round, will be against Ryan Meikle, who defeated Fallon Sherrock on Tuesday night.
The match will take place on Saturday, 21 December. The match is third in the order of play for the evening session, which starts at 7pm GMT, so we can expect the match to start at approximately 9pm GMT.
In round three, the highest seed is Ritchie Edhouse, then in round four Danny Noppert could stand in his way.
A quarter-final against Rob Cross is on the cards before defending world champion Luke Humphries in the semi-finals. The final could see Littler face a number of former world champions, including Michael Van Gerwen and Gary Anderson.
14:22 , Mike Jones
Philippine darts player Sandro Eric Sosing has withdrawn from the World Championship on “medical grounds”.
Sosing felt chest pains while practising ahead of his first-round match with Ian White at Alexandra Palace in north London, and was taken to hospital for assessment.
Sosing is ranked 225th in the world, and is one of a quartet of players from the Philippines taking part in this year’s World Championship. The 41-year-old, who won his first Asian Tour title in March, qualified for the tournament after finishing runner-up in the PDC Asian Championship.
Darts player taken to hospital minutes before World Championship match
14:00 , Mike Jones
Luke Humphries,
Michael Smith,
Michael van Gerwen,
Luke Littler,
Rob Cross,
Dave Chisnall,
Jonny Clayton,
Stephen Bunting,
Damon Heta,
Gerwyn Price,
Dimitri Van den Bergh,
Nathan Aspinall,
Danny Noppert,
Gary Anderson,
Chris Dobey,
James Wade,
Peter Wright,
Josh Rock,
Ross Smith,
Ryan Searle,
Andrew Gilding,
Martin Schindler,
Joe Cullen,
Mike De Decker,
Dirk van Duijvenbode,
Daryl Gurney,
Gabriel Clemens,
Gian van Veen,
Ritchie Edhouse,
Brendan Dolan,
Krzysztof Ratajski,
Raymond van Barneveld.
13:40 , Mike Jones
Winner: £500,000
Runner-Up: £200,000
Semi-Final: £100,000
Quarter-Final: £50,000
Fourth Round: £35,000
Third Round: £25,000
Second Round: £15,000
First Round: £7,500
Total: £2,500,000
13:21 , Mike Jones
Saturday 21 December
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Karel Sedlacek v Rhys Griffin (R1)
Richard Veenstra v Alexis Toylo (R1)
Brendan Dolan v Lok Yin Lee (R2)
Chris Dobey v Alexander Merkx (R2)
Evening Session (7pm)
Danny Noppert v Ryan Joyce (R2)
Raymond van Barneveld v Nick Kenny (R2)
Luke Littler v Ryan Meikle (R2)
Damon Heta v Connor Scutt (R2)
13:02 , Mike Jones
Luke Littler is back at the Ally Pally this evening for his first match as this year’s Darts World Championship and will face off againt Ryan Meikle in the second round.
The pair are up third in the evening session (which begins at 7pm) and should put on an entertaining encounter. Littler is one of the favourites to win the whole tournament so should be able to get through without too much trouble but there have already been some big scalps defeated and he’ll need to be switched on tonight.
Friday 20 December 2024 17:58 , Jack Rathborn
The PDC Paddy Power World Darts Championship 2024/25 is underway as Alexandra Palace delivers its usual thrills over the festive period.
Luke Humphries is back and ready to defend his title after triumphing over teenage sensation Luke Littler in the final in January – with a potential rematch set for the semi-finals.
As the Littler effect sweeps across the sport, ‘The Nuke’ enters this year’s championship as favourite, with ‘Cool Hand Luke’ and former world champions Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson among the main contenders.
Mike De Decker and Michael Smith suffered shock early exits, with Ritchie Edhouse one to watch with 96 players competing for the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy and a £2.5m prize pot. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s championship:
