Luke Littler demolishes Raymond van Barneveld to keep adventure going | PDC World Championships

This was at all times going to occur, . That there would finally come a time limit when genetics, circumstance, alternative and doner meat mixed to produce the proper darts specimen. It’s a easy sufficient ability and the boundaries to entry are invitingly low. Statistically talking, there have in all probability been people born who have been as naturally gifted at darts as Luke Littler. All that was required was for one in all them to realise it.

And now he’s a world championship quarter-finalist on the age of 16, and he’s a little bit beamish, and he’s a little bit bewildered, however – crucially – he’s not in in the slightest degree stunned. Nothing about his manner or his carriage suggests he didn’t see all this coming sooner or later. Maybe not now, however then once more why not? After all, he’s at all times identified how good he’s. He’s been feeling the tactile thunk of a treble mattress since earlier than he may correctly stroll. It’s everybody else who wanted to rise up to pace.

Which, it’s truthful to say, they’re now doing. It’s been fairly just a few days within the Littler universe because the Big Bang towards Christian Kist in spherical one. The preliminary explosion in curiosity. The viral tweets. The interviews on daytime tv. The image of him holding aloft a kebab and a duplicate of the Sun. The subsequent apology for the image of him holding aloft a kebab and a duplicate of the Sun. The subsequent backlash to the apology for the image of him holding aloft a kebab and a duplicate of the Sun. Everything is discourse. Everything is content material.

Gary Anderson reckoned the media had already “ruined” Littler, and that the callous vultures of the press ought to simply let him play. Of course, you’re welcome to query whether or not one of the simplest ways of complaining about sensationalised media protection is through the medium of headline-grabbing feedback in a press convention, however in some ways it’s a moot level. Littler has already been mobbed on the Emirates Stadium and requested for an autograph by Declan Rice. The Sunday Times have despatched their chief characteristic author to cowl this last-16 match. This factor has already began.

And if it’s going to come off the rails, you’re feeling like tonight could be the evening. Raymond van Barneveld isn’t just a legend of the game, however a proud and prickled legend: having fun with this late ray of daylight in a gently itemizing profession, even when the glare is to a big extent mirrored. He milks his walk-on for every part it’s value. The crowd rise to acclaim him. You keep in mind – largely as a result of it’s been plastered over social media all day – that Littler wasn’t even born when Van Barneveld beat Phil Taylor in that traditional 2007 world last.

But in fact Littler doesn’t come off the rails. The walk-on is a little bit gauche and the post-match interviews are gawky and charming, however in between, on that stage, he’s as previous as wine. The switching and cover-shooting is clean and unthinking. The darts thud the board with authority, constancy and grouping. He rises to the large moments in the identical method that Taylor did, that Michael van Gerwen did, or maybe nonetheless does. The 4 legs with which he clinches his 4 units are received in 11, 12, 13 and 13 darts.

You can’t think about, and nor can I, the stress of taking part in towards this. The cumulative pressure of figuring out your opponent can beat you from just about any place, of figuring out no out-shot is protected, of figuring out a lead of 100 is de facto no lead in any respect. Weaknesses? Of course they have to exist, however you received’t discover them, as a result of even he hasn’t but. Van Barneveld performed a high-quality recreation. He averaged nearly 100 and hit 45% of his doubles. That’s world-class. And nonetheless he misplaced 4-1.

And now, just as Emma Raducanu found the 2021 US Open draw opening out deliciously in front of her, Littler sees fate bending in his direction. Anderson’s sensational defeat to Brendan Dolan takes out the highest remaining seed in his section. After Dolan on Monday, the red-hot Chris Dobey or the resurgent Rob Cross in the semis. Late in the day Luke Humphries beats Joe Cullen in a sudden-death classic to secure a quarter-final against Dave Chisnall, with Van Gerwen still lurking dangerously.

Any of them could beat Littler. But to do so would require defeating not just an opponent but a movement, pushing back something that feels like it is already being willed into existence. As if to prove the point, Littler is asked afterwards when he last lost a darts match. He can’t remember.