Luke Littler will now face Jim Williams or Raymond van Barneveld in the fourth round on Saturday; the World Darts Championship runs all the way until the final on January 3, 2024 – we’re back on Thursday at 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports Darts.

With a dramatic 4-1 victory over Matt Campbell at Alexandra Palace, teenager Luke Littler continued his dream World Darts Championship debut, setting up a potential last-16 confrontation against Raymond van Barneveld. The 16-year-old had already made his mark on the world stage with a 106.12 average in a straight-sets triumph over Christian Kist in the first round last week, followed by a 3-1 victory over reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding the next day. Littler faced extra pressure and scrutiny on Wednesday evening against Campbell, who had defeated James Wade to advance to the third round, but the former world youth champion delivered a convincing victory to underline his status as a serious title contender.

Backed by chants of “you’ve got school in the morning” from the vocal crowd, the fans’ favourite raced through the first two sets without losing a leg and battled back from 2-0 to claim the third in a final-leg decider, then responded to losing the fourth by taking out a 164 checkout on his way winning the fifth and securing his spot in the fourth round.

“Unbelievable,” Littler told Sky Sports. “I only wanted to win one game, and I ended up winning three.” I made it through it, and I’m really delighted. I simply let my darts do the talking. “As soon as I won that first game against Christian Kist, I just relaxed, and as soon as I went 2-0 up against Matt, I tried to calm myself down because the last time it didn’t go so well. I remained calm and got over the queue.”

‘Superstar’ Littler marches on in the worlds

Littler broke Campbell in the first leg, then hit the first maximum of the match on his way to a 13-dart hold in the second, before closing the set by capitalising on Campbell’s wayward finishing. Only 40 darts were required to complete the second set in straight legs, with Littler scoring 14-dart finishes on either side of a sensational 130 checkout and 12-dart break of throw against his astonished opponent. Campbell finally got a leg on the board with a 72 checkout to capture the first leg of the third, and he broke throw with a 101 finish, but the Canadian wasted three set darts, allowing Littler back into the set.

Littler broke throw on D10 and levelled the set with a 56 checkout in the next, with both players wasting set darts in a tense final-leg decider before the Englishman took out tops for a three-set lead. Campbell was 2-1 down in the fourth set and on the verge of a straight-sets defeat until he followed a 13-dart hold of throw with a superb ‘Shanghai’ 120 finish to win the set, but he rapidly trailed in the next set when Littler blasted in an amazing 164 checkout against the darts.