Luke Littler Battles into PDC Fourth Round

Luke Littler advanced to the fourth round of the PDC World Darts Championship with a hard-fought 4-1 win over veteran Ian White. Despite the scoreline, the 17-year-old pre-tournament favorite faced tough moments, surviving set darts in the first and fourth sets. Littler showcased flashes of brilliance including a dominant third set with a 115 average, finishing it in just 39 darts. His overall average of 97.84 edged out White’s and secured his place in the next round against unseeded Ryan Joyce.

Reflecting on the match, Littler acknowledged the intensity of the contest and the need to improve his double accuracy which stood at 35%. He also highlighted the challenge Joyce could pose, saying, “I’ve got to hit those doubles – I know what went wrong.” Elsewhere, three-time champion Michael van Gerwen advanced with a 4-2 victory over Brendan Dolan. Van Gerwen’s performance fluctuated, featuring moments of brilliance such as a 118.66 average in the fourth set but also lapses in form and missed doubles.

He will face either Jeffrey de Graaf or Paolo Nebrida in the next round. Van Gerwen admitted the need for consistency, stating, “There’s a lot of work still to do.” Chris Dobey defeated Josh Rock 4-2 in a close match that saw momentum shift throughout. Dobey’s consistent scoring and a 45.2% checkout rate proved decisive. He will play either Kevin Doets or Krzysztof Ratajski in the fourth round.

The afternoon session saw notable results with Ryan Joyce stunning 20th seed Ryan Searle while Ricardo Pietreczko and Nathan Aspinall also advanced. The tournament continues to deliver drama and excitement as players vie for the coveted title.