Express Sport keeps you up to date with the latest World Darts Championship news (Image: Getty)
is finally in action on Day 7 of the . The 17-year-old, who reached last year’s final, is up against Ryan Meikle in tonight’s penultimate clash on the Ally Pally stage.
Brendan Dolan, Chris Dobey, Danny Noppert and Raymond van Barneveld are also scheduled to play in what could be the most absorbing day of darting action at this year’s Championship so far.
Last night saw ease through to the third round, with Dylan Slevin, Florian Hempel and Mickey Mansell also winning their respective matches.
Follow Express Sport‘s live darts updates below…
Michael van Gerwen mind games begin
Michael van Gerwen has raised the possibility of a surprise defeat for Luke Littler at the World Darts Championship tonight.
The teenager faces Ryan Meikle, and Van Gerwen has reminded him that it would ‘not be the first time’ he crashes out in the first round this year if things don’t go his way.
‘Mighty Mike’ defeated Littler in the opening round of the World Matchplay in July.
“Ryan Meikle is a good player,” said Van Gerwen. “Of course Luke is a massive favourite but Ryan is quite a slow player so maybe there could be a surprise, you never know.
“It wouldn’t be the first tournament he loses first round this year as well [smirks]. But I still expect him to win.”
Bookies baffle dark horse
Underdog Wessel Nijman has been left confused by some bookmakers putting him at sixth or seventh favourite to win the World Darts Championship.
The 24-year-old, ranked 58th in the world, lost four matches in a row leading up to the tournament.
But he put up a good fight in his three Grand Slam of Darts group games, and landed in a favourable part of the draw at the Ally Pally.
“[The odds are] based on my performance at the Grand Slam, but there I lost three times,” Nijman told Viaplay. “And at the Players Championship Finals I lost right away.
“My last four matches at a major I’ve lost. So it doesn’t make sense that I’m listed by the bookies as the sixth favourite to win the World Championship.”
Wessel Nijman only scraped through his opening match at the WDC (Image: Getty)
Emma Paton hits back at Luke Littler complaints
Sky Sports Darts host Emma Paton has dismissed claims about Luke Littler soaking up too much TV coverage.
Gary Anderson and James Wade have both aired concerns about Luke Humphries not getting the recognition he deserves as champion due to the hype surrounding Littler.
But Paton feels that Littler’s remarkable rise was always going to attract attention.
“Yeah, I do [think Humphries has had enough credit],” she told . “And I think he’ll be happy with it too. I can only talk for our Sky coverage.
“I think for some people, the Littler stuff gets a bit convoluted. We’re talking about an incredible sporting story. I can’t think of a comparison in another sport about how ridiculous it is.
“It’s one that you don’t see often, maybe ever. Also, for me, we’re talking about it because of his impact on the sport. He’s taken the sport to places it’s never been to before. That interest from last year’s Worlds hasn’t dwindled.
“I think what Gary Anderson and James Wade were getting confused about was that we are talking about this story in the context of sport and what that means.”
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to Express Sport‘s live coverage of the World Darts Championship.
A blockbuster day of action lies ahead so strap yourself in as we’ll keep you bang up to date with all the most important bits…