Luke Littler secured his place in the third round of the World Darts Championship with a 3-1 victory over Ryan Meikle, but John Part suggests The Nuke could find the tournament tougher than last year.
Luke Littler struggled early on against Meikle, but found his form to defeat the Ipswich thrower and nearly hit a nine-darter.
The emotion of the situation clearly overawed The Nuke as he broke down with his parents after the match and former World Darts Champion John Part thinks that could be due to a change in expectation.
- READ MORE: Michael van Gerwen’s route to the World Darts Championship Final has become so much easier
Luke Littler has ‘so much to live up to’, says John Part
Littler took the World Darts Championship by storm in 2024 when he reached the final as a 16-year-old, but he comes into Ally Pally this year as the favourite to win the tournament.
Two-time World Darts Champion Part suggests players knowing what to expect and his own expectations may make his campaign harder this term.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Part said: “It occurred to me watching Luke that none of his experiences playing matches last year are of any help to him, I don’t think, because I think he’s a whole different player now.
“He has different expectations for himself and from his opponents, what they’re going to do against him. There was a sort of awkwardness last year, playing a then 16-year-old and players didn’t know what to make of it.
“‘Am I going to be embarrassed if I lose, maybe?’ Those old-fashioned ideas, right? Not this year – he’s the tournament favourite.”
Part believes this year will be the true experience for Littler after the whirlwind experience of his debut tournament.
Part said: “I just think this was the first experience of what his real professional career is at world championships. The expectation levels, the ridiculous level of pressure that he’s going to have to live with.
“It won’t go away, it’ll be every time he plays, but he’ll become conditioned, I’m sure.”
Littler plays Ian White in the third round of the World Darts Championship.
Luke Littler’s draw to the finals
With 14 seeds dropping out of the World Darts Championship already, Littler’s journey to the final has dramatically changed.
Should The Nuke navigate past White in the third round, he’ll play either Ryan Joyce or Ryan Searle in the fourth round.
Should he find a way past either Ryan, one of Nathan Aspinall, Scott Williams, Ricardo Pietreczko, or Andrew Gilding will be waiting for Littler.
With the way the tournament is shaping up, Littler could reach the final four without playing a singled seeded player.