"I was playing with a fresh set of darts" - Luke Littler battles through equipment changes to seal opening win as World Champion
PDC
Luke Littler made a good start to his title defense at the Bahrain Darts Masters. In the opening round of this first tournament of the World Series of Darts 2025, he was 6-3 too strong for Lourence Ilagan. Littler certainly did not impress but did enough to secure the win. 'The Nuke' will take on Gerwyn Price tonight in the quarterfinals.
Littler started the year with a bang by winning the World Darts Championship, defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace and becoming the youngest ever world darts champion at the age of 17. Afterwards, Littler took a break with his family for a relaxing vacation in Benidorm. But now the batteries have been recharged and Littler is ready to amaze the darts world again this year.
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In Bahrain last year he captured his first major title with the PDC, beating Michael van Gerwen 8-5 in the final. Littler is therefore keen to win again this year, but then as reigning world champion. In his first official match since his world title, he posted an average of 94.36. "I wouldn’t say there were any nerves, but I was playing with a fresh set of darts because the ones I used at the World Championship are being put away in a frame and I had to break in a new set," he said.as per The Sun.
Littler also never had to go into overdrive because Ilagan didn't play great either, stuck at 82.50 average. "I played all right in patches, and it would mean the world to me if I could come back here as world champion and defend my title."
Continue to win
Right after his world title, Littler said he wouldn't mind if he didn't win another tournament after his world title this year. But he has since changed his mind about that anyway. "I want to win as much as I can, win more titles than I did last year and break the nine-dart record (he tied the record of four in a calendar year held by Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen in 2024).
“And I am looking forward not only to being world champion for the whole year but hearing (master of ceremonies) John McDonald introduce me as the newly-crowned champion of the world.”
Littler will take on Gerwyn Price tonight in the quarterfinals, who had little trouble with Lok Yin Lee in his opening match, winning 6-3. The winner of this duel will next take on the winner of the match between Paolo Nebrida and Peter Wright in the semifinals.
LITTLER SURVIVES ILAGAN SCARE ☢️
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 16, 2025
Made to work at times but Luke Littler skips over the line eventually as he beats Lourence Ilagan 6-3.
📺 https://t.co/hHaJAJfFOa#WorldSeriesDarts pic.twitter.com/Q2OUAZtdxM
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