Luke Littler found himself at the centre of one of the strangest and most talked-about moments of this year’s PDC World Darts Championship, as a surreal incident at Alexandra Palace left players, fans and commentators all trying to work out what had just happened.
The reigning world champion was making his return to the Ally Pally stage amid huge expectation, with the teenage sensation widely tipped to go deep into the tournament once again. Facing Welsh opponent David Davies in the second round, Littler looked calm and composed from the outset, but the match took an unexpected turn that nobody inside the venue could have predicted.
Early in the opening set, with the leg finely balanced, Davies struggled badly on the doubles. Dart after dart missed its mark, and the pressure visibly mounted. Then came the moment that stunned the crowd. Believing the set was already over, Davies suddenly turned away from the oche and began walking off the stage, seemingly heading for a break that hadn’t actually arrived.
For a few seconds, Ally Pally fell into complete confusion. Fans looked at one another, unsure whether the leg had finished or if something had gone wrong. Even the commentators hesitated, trying to process what they were witnessing. It quickly became clear that Davies had miscounted and thought the set was complete, despite the score still being level.
One commentator summed up the disbelief in the arena by suggesting Davies had completely lost track of where he was in the match, while Littler stood at the oche waiting patiently for play to resume. Officials stepped in to clarify the situation, and Davies was guided back to continue the leg, but the damage appeared to have been done.
Rather than being distracted by the chaos, Littler remained unfazed. Showing maturity well beyond his years, he stayed focused and took full advantage of the moment. After the match, he admitted the situation was confusing even for him, but noted that his opponent’s struggles on the doubles gave him an opening. Davies had missed a remarkable number of darts at double, and Littler was quick to capitalise.
Once the bizarre interruption passed, Littler tightened his grip on the contest. He found his rhythm, punished mistakes ruthlessly and went on to complete a dominant straight-sets victory, sealing a 3–0 win and booking his place in the third round. It was another reminder of why he is regarded as one of the most composed players on the biggest stage, despite his young age.
The incident instantly became a talking point among fans, with many calling it one of the most unusual moments ever seen at the World Championship. Ally Pally is famous for its noise, energy and unpredictability, but even seasoned darts followers admitted they had never seen a player walk off mid-set by mistake.
This year’s tournament has already delivered plenty of strange and memorable moments, from heated on-stage exchanges to unexpected interruptions during matches. The Littler-Davies confusion only added to the growing list of talking points, reinforcing Ally Pally’s reputation as a place where anything can happen.
Despite the oddity, Littler’s performance sent a clear message to the rest of the field. The defending champion looks sharp, focused and unfazed by distractions, whether they come from the crowd, the atmosphere or even a bizarre mid-match misunderstanding. His next challenge will be against a more experienced opponent, but confidence is clearly flowing.
For Littler, it was another night where the headlines weren’t just about his darts, but his ability to handle the unexpected. And for the fans inside Alexandra Palace, it was a moment that will be remembered long after the final dart is thrown — a reminder that at Ally Pally, even the simplest moments can turn into something unforgettable.
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