After an excellent debut year and a final appearance at the 2024 World Championship, the pressure is on for Luke Littler to go one better at Alexandra Palace.
The teenager comes into darts’ biggest tournament in fantastic form after recently capturing the Grand Slam of Darts and reaching the final of the Players Championship Finals.
We simulated Luke Littler’s run at Ally Pally and it included some massive match-ups and even bigger talking points.
Round two: Luke Littler vs Fallon Sherrock
As soon as the draw came out, fans were buzzing about the prospect of Luke Littler vs Fallon Sherrock.
The Queen of the Palace is one of the most celebrated players on the Ally Pally stage and is not afraid to make history in the World Championship.
Likewise, Littler has become the darling of darts and this could be one of the greatest atmospheres the tournament has ever seen.
Littler should have more than enough to topple Sherrock and advance to the last 32 with little fuss.
Last 32: Luke Littler vs Ritchie Edhouse
It’s a testament to the high standard of the current PDC Tour that Littler should be drawn against European Champion Ritchie Edhouse in the last 32.
Edhouse defeated Ian White to advance to this stage to set up a battle between the two major winners on the Ally Pally stage.
As good as Edhouse has been performing in the back end of 2024, Littler should have too much quality for Mad House.
Last 16: Luke Littler vs Ryan Searle
The difficult games don’t stop coming for The Nuke as his win over Edhouse sets up a clash with ‘Heavy Metal’ Ryan Searle.
Littler and Searle have met twice this year, on the Pro Tour and the European Tour, and they’ve both gone the way of the teenager.
Searle’s best performance in the World Championship is the last 16 on three occasions and it’ll stay the same this year as The Nuke advances to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal: Luke Littler vs Gian Van Veen
Now this one is a turn-up for the books as Littler and Gian Van Veen play out the 2023 PDC World Youth Championship on the big stage.
Van Veen has been in superb form in 2024, particularly at the Grand Slam of Darts where he hit scarily high averages, and this tournament will be his arrival as an elite player.
Littler won their Youth Championship clash and it’ll be no different here as The Nuke sets up back-to-back World Championship semi-finals at darts’ biggest event.
Semi-final: Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries
Last year’s final will be the semi-final as Littler and Luke Humphries meet yet again on the big stage.
Humphries has proved he’s the man for the big occasions, winning the World Championship, World Matchplay, and Players Championship Finals in 2024 – but Littler will get the better of him in Ally Pally.
Littler will undo his mistakes in the World Championship final and get the job done against Cool Hand to earn his spot in the final.
Final: Luke Littler vs Michael van Gerwen
In his second final in two years, Littler will find himself against Michael van Gerwen in a clash that will encompass the changing of the guard.
Littler will become the fifth different winner on the trot after the successes of Humphries, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, and Gerwyn Price.
After major wins in the Premier League and Grand Slam, Littler will capture the big one at the second time of asking.