Luke Littler embarrasses World Darts Championship legend Van Barneveld as epic run goes on | Other | Sport

Luke Littler embarrassed World Darts Championship legend Raymond van Barneveld at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night as he defeated the 2007 champion 4-1. The 16-year-old was in sensational form from start to finish against the Dutchman and will now take on Brendan Dolan in the quarter-finals.

Littler entered his latest encounter with the weight of expectation resting firmly on his shoulders following his sudden rise to fame over the last couple of weeks. And the teenager began the match in magnificent fashion as he hit his first 180 on his second visit to the oche before closing out the opening set 3-1.

The Englishmen refused to take his foot off the gas in the second set as he won it by the same scoreline before clinching the third set 3-2.

Littler, who wasn’t even born when Van Barneveld defeated Phil Taylor in the 2007 showpiece event, was on track to whitewash his opponent but went down 3-2 in the fourth set as Van Barneveld teased a comeback. But the youngster ultimately had too much for the veteran as he racked up a series of 180s in the fifth set to win it 3-2 and cement the victory.

Littler averaged 105.01 during the showdown, with Van Barneveld averaging 99.61. And the teenage star hit nine 180s, while nailing 14 of his 28 doubles attempts.

“Unbelievable,” exclaimed Littler as he spoke to Sky Sports after the match had ended. “My average has shown it, my double percentage has shown it – I don’t know what to say. He (Van Barneveld) said, ‘you can go all the way, I hope you can go all the way’. I said, ‘thank you.’ He’s a true gentleman and I respect Raymond. I fancy myself [to win the whole thing], I do fancy myself. Let’s just focus on Brendan.”

Dolan will meet Littler after overcoming two-time champion Gary Anderson 4-3 earlier in the evening in an epic last 16 clash. And following his victory, the Northern Irishman insisted he wasn’t bothered who he faced in the last eight.

“That was some game,” Dolan said. “I was wondering what was wrong with Gary but then he kicked into gear and the next thing he’s ahead of me. I’m wondering ‘don’t let this go, make him win it’. It was in the lap of the gods. It was a special win because I was playing one of the greats in my lifetime. To beat them in big games is special. I’ll take either Barney or Luke Littler.”