Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle – World Darts Championship: Live score and set-by-set updates as The Nuke targets first world title

Miekle is then able to get his first 180 of the game and work his way to 141, but Littler is on his heels and won’t let him down.

But Meikle looks more confident than his first leg, and he pulls off another hold.

But Littler on throw is quickly back in the game with a lightning fast maximum!

A confident start from Littler leaves Meikle somewhat nervous, stuck at 224 as Littler sprints back to 52.

With a quick double top, Littler has his statement of intent. No hassle here.

“There’s only one Luke Littler!” sounds around the palace as the players warm up with their last few throws.

Meikle on the throw starts with two high notes and looks as confident as he can, while Littler is a little slower to shake off the rust from bypassing the first round.

Getting to 133 with some room for Littler’s 290 puts him in a good position to take the opening leg, but it takes a while before he finds the required double 10.

Littler is only able to catch up somewhat before Meikle holds the throw.

Predictably, the crowd goes wild and sings his now famous walk-out song.

Just a few more moments until we’re on our way here.

In the meantime, look who snuck in? One Matty Cash, fresh from beating embattled champions Manchester City at Villa Park.

He’s under the baseball cap, I promise.

…and he is greeted with boos. Ah, the curse of playing the fan favorite.

However, one advantage is that you can play without pressure. Yes, he didn’t get past first-round opponent Fallon Sherrock with ease, but there are certainly no downsides to giving it your all against a talent like Littler.

The teen has a little video interview as the moments wind down to his arrival. Has it really only been a year?

I said to my mother and my father, I only remember bits and pieces from last year.

This year has been great and I’m excited to be on stage all week.

I’ve grown over the last 12 months so hopefully I can win tonight. It’s about getting past that first game.

And here is his first message…

Good evening from one of the few sober souls in Alexandra Palace. A five-time world champion in Raymond van Barneveld may have just lost, but that wasn’t why a ticket to Ally Pally represented the hottest in town this Saturday night.

We’re all here for Luke Littler, the Prince of the Palace, to see him begin his quest for the World Championship crown. His opponent Ryan Meikle may be a slow player, but he knows everyone is rooting for Littler anyway, so he won’t mind frustrating a few fans in this match, I’m sure.

Who will be the lucky one to compete against the big favorite tonight?

‘The Barber’ is not an empty nickname – Meikle is one of the few stars who still has a day job. You suppose knocking the nuke off its perch would be a way to give up.

As we count down to tonight’s match, take a look at Mail Sport’s underdog profile below.

Ally Pally fans have just been treated to Nick Kenny’s dismantling of five-time world champion and darts legend Raymond van Barneveld.

It was exciting in the last leg after the winner missed eight match darts, but Kenny got there in the end and Van Barneveld is history.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Luke Littler’s first match at this year’s World Championships – a year on from his lightning debut.

The new Young Sports Personality of the Year is back at Alexandra Palace after a spectacular year to take on Ryan Meikle in his second round match.

Last year he was a finalist and this year the tournament favorite. And that journey starts tonight…