Sixteen-year-old Luke Littler says he is “daring to dream” of winning the World Darts Championship after making history by reaching the quarter-finals.
The teenager produced a stunning performance to beat his childhood idol Raymond van Barneveld – who is 40 years his senior – in a last-16 match at Alexandra Palace on Saturday evening.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Littler said: “It is an incredible feeling.
“My cover shooting was unbelievable, my doubles got me over the line, and I think I am daring to dream now. I have seen the draw.
“I am only three wins away now.
“I’m so young, only 16 and I have got nothing to fear. I have got no-one to fear.
“My game can be better than anyone’s on the day and I have shown it there against one of the greatest who have graced that stage.
“With performances like that, I can go all the way.”
Littler admitted he had “pictured myself winning it” and said, despite only being in the quarter-finals, “I fancy myself”.
Up next for the teenager on New Year’s Day is Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan – who beat two-time champion Gary Anderson in a tense match.
Littler told Sky Sports: “I do fancy myself, but we have Brendan next. Let’s just focus on Brendan.”
Van Barneveld – a five-time world champion – called his teenage opponent a “darts robot” after his defeat.
“I didn’t throw that bad at all, but this is not normal. Incredible,” he said.
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Littler, from Warrington, Cheshire, previously told Sky News he started playing darts before he was out of nappies.
He said: “There’s a video on YouTube of me when I was 18 months in a nappy listening to Raymond van Barneveld’s music, listening to Phil Taylor’s music, doing their celebrations,” he said.
“That’s when it started – 18 months and in a nappy on a magnetic board.”
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Littler won his first match at the PDC World Darts Championship on 20 December, averaging an astonishing 106.12 in his demolition of former Lakeside champion Christian Kist in the first round.
He held off a mid-match charge from the experienced Andrew Gilding to knock out the 20th seed with a 3-1 win in the second round.
In the third round, Littler beat Canadian Matt Campbell four sets to one to make history as the youngest player to ever reach the last-16 of the tournament – and is now the youngest player to reach the quarter-finals.
