World Darts Championship: Luke Littler beats Ian White as Michael van Gerwen and Chris Dobey win at Alexandra Palace | Darts Information

Luke Littler has progressed to the fourth spherical of the World Darts Championship after overcoming one other powerful take a look at to defeat Ian White 4-1 at Alexandra Palace.

The pre-tournament favourite cruised by a good first set however misplaced the second to White, who missed the darts to win three of the primary 4 units and threaten a well-known upset in opposition to the fourth seed.

Littler cruised by the third set in simply 39 darts and punished a missed dart from White to shut the fourth with a checkout of 70, then broke White within the subsequent earlier than closing out the victory with a 14-dart.

Littler posted a 97.84 common and 12 maximums in opposition to White, with the 17-year-old avoiding a repeat of the feelings seen in his second-round victory over Ryan Meikle and reserving a round-of-16 encounter with Ryan Joyce on Monday.

What’s subsequent…

MVG pushes Dolan away as Dobey continues on his manner

Van Gerwen regarded on target to win the primary set when he known as a throwing break within the third recreation, just for Dolan to consecutively hearth 15 darts – together with an 86 on the right track – to take a shock lead.

The Dutchman accomplished a troublesome 21-dart leg – though he missed seven darts on the double – however completed second in emphatic trend within the subsequent leg, firing 129 darts for a 12-dart break, earlier than taking rapidly management the competitors. .

Van Gerwen gained eight straight rounds – together with an excellent 149 early within the fourth – to win the following two units in straight legs, just for Dolan to benefit from the three-time world champion’s wayward end to interrupt and declare a set. again within the fifth.

Dolan produced an excellent check-out of 123 on the right track and missed a dart within the subsequent leg to take the competition to a closing set decider, as Van Gerwen survived to carry the throw and safe his place within the spherical following.

“It was actually powerful, a very powerful match,” Van Gerwen advised Sky Sports activities. “I attempted to punish him on the proper occasions and I wasn’t capable of. I can solely blame myself. I am so glad D8 got here in on the finish.”

The opening match of the night time additionally featured a detailed encounter, the place Dobey got here again from 2-1 all the way down to earn a 4-2 victory over Rock and e book a spherical of 16 encounter in opposition to both Kevin Doets or Krzysztof Ratajski.

Dobey responded to the third set loss by racing by the fourth in straight legs and survived Rock lacking a set dart within the fifth to edge out a closing set decider, earlier than sealing victory with an excellent double-double on the 19 and 96.

Afternoon review: Aspinall qualifies for the round of 16

Nathan Aspinall reached the spherical of 16 for the primary time in 5 years after beating Andrew Gilding in straight units, setting him up for a gathering in opposition to Ricardo Pietreczko Monday.

Aspinall broke Gilding twice within the first set and managed to win the following two video games, earlier than closing out a powerful victory – the place he averaged 92.17 and was scientific in doubles – by clearing the tops for a 14-dart. to interrupt.

“I’m glad I used to be capable of end,” Aspinall mentioned Aerial sports activities. “Usually, I am actually dangerous at ending, that is usually why I lose. Usually, my rating just isn’t there. The final two matches that I performed, I completed very properly, I did not I did not rating properly.”

Pietreczko continued his spectacular world championship run by brushing apart final 12 months’s semi-finalist Scott Williams, successful the primary two units and racing by the fourth in straight legs earlier than securing a 4-1 victory with a surprising 121 on the right track.

The session’s different match went all the way down to the ultimate set, with Joyce dropping a two-set result in Ryan Searle earlier than recovering to advance to the fourth spherical for the primary time since 2019.

“It was only a very powerful recreation,” Joyce mentioned. Aerial sports activities. “I lastly tried all the things to qualify and I am so glad I managed to seek out one thing within the tank in that final set.”

What’s subsequent?

The third spherical concludes on Sunday, with Dimitri van den Bergh headlining the afternoon session in opposition to Callan Rydz after Kevin Doets faces Krzysztof Ratajski and Jeffrey de Graff performs Paolo Nebrida.

Ricky Evans takes on Robert Owen to open the night session, the ultimate spherical of 16 match of the match, earlier than the fourth spherical begins later within the night with an all-Welsh showdown between Jonny Clayton and former world champion Gerwyn Value.

Defending champion Luke Humphries will then face the two-time world champion within the closing match of the night, with the remaining six matches of the fourth spherical being performed on Monday earlier than the quarter-finals happen – over two classes – on New 12 months’s Day. 12 months.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely stay till January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.