Luke Littler made light work of Lourence Ilagan as he returned to the oche for the first time since winning the World Darts Championship – minutes after Rob Cross’ humbling exit.
The 17-year-old became the toast of the darting world at Alexandra Palace earlier this month, beating Michael van Gerwen to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time. And his maiden appearance since becoming world champ was in Bahrain as he looked to defend the title he won 12 months ago.
Back in 2024, Littler won the Bahrain Masters in his first ever World Series event, just weeks after losing the final at Ally Pally to Luke Humphries. That kicked off a magical year which included winning the Premier League and the Grand Slam before his crowing moment in the capital.
Littler enters this time around as the second seed, but tournament favourite, and moved into the quarter finals with a 6-3 win over reigning PDC Asian champion Ilagan. Despite not being at his best, with the score at 4-3, Littler charged to the finish line in clinical fashion averaging just below 95 in the process.
It may have been yet another victory for ‘The Nuke’, but there was a very substantial difference, with the teenage sensation using a new set of arrows following his win over Van Gerwen. And he admitted that may have had an impact on a below-par performance.
He said: “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.
“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.
“I want to win as much as I can, win more titles than I did last year and break the nine-dart record (he equalled 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.”
It was a different story for former world champion Rob Cross however. The 2018 winner – and number three seed – was the shock casualty in the last 16, losing 6-3 to Paolo Nebrida of the Philippines.
Cross was the first and only seed to fall in Bahrain on Thursday, with the remaining heavyweights all safely through to Friday night. Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting both won 6-3, before Chris Dobey and Humphries both won their ties without dropping a leg.
Following Littler’s victory, Peter Wright won his tie, before Nathan Aspinall secured his place in the quarters in the final match of the night.
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