The electric atmosphere of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace had just reached a fever pitch. Seventeen-year-old sensation Luke Littler, affectionately known as “The Nuke,” had emerged victorious from an absolute epic against Ryan Joyce, a match that pushed both players to their absolute limits and kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the very last dart. The scoreline, a dramatic 4-3 in sets, barely captured the ebb and flow of the contest, where each player refused to yield an inch.
In the immediate aftermath of his hard-fought triumph, as the roar of the crowd slowly subsided, Littler made a beeline for his opponent, Joyce. It wasn’t merely a handshake; it was a moment of mutual respect between two warriors who had just engaged in a gladiatorial battle on the oche. Littler leaned in and revealed the playful, yet telling, comment he delivered to “Relentless” Ryan Joyce.
“You said in your interview you’ve got no power scoring,” Littler recounted, a smirk likely playing on his lips, “you were right behind me every leg!”
This candid exchange highlighted the intense pressure Joyce had exerted throughout the match, defying his own self-assessment and pushing Littler to find an extra gear. Joyce, true to his nickname, had indeed been relentless, consistently breaking Littler’s throw and leveling the score whenever the young prodigy seemed poised to pull away. He averaged over 97 and even broke Littler’s throw in the sixth set to force the decisive seventh.
Littler himself admitted the profound challenge presented by Joyce. “Both of us played very well. I’m sure Ryan wasn’t happy with the result, but the way he played I think he should go off that stage very happy.”1 He further elaborated on the difficulty of the encounter, stating, “It was very tough. I knew he’d be right behind me all game. I knew that, maybe not on the power scoring, but I knew that he would take out big finishes and I knew he’d do very well on his doubles.”2
The match was a testament to Littler’s burgeoning mental fortitude. Despite moments of visible frustration, particularly after losing the fourth set to make it 2-2, he demonstrated an ability to “dig deep.” As he explained, “I went into tenth gear at one point and I had to!” His average of 103.14 was his highest of the tournament, though a slightly lower double percentage of 35 percent meant it wasn’t as comfortable as his scoring might suggest. Even so, when the chips were down in the final set, he delivered, registering an impressive average of almost 111.
“Going into that last set, I just said to myself, ‘You’ve got the darts here now. This set really matters or else you’re going all the way.’ And I’m happy to win it,”3 Littler reflected on his mindset as he approached the crucial decider. He then sealed the victory with a confident double 12, a checkout that exemplified his ability to hit big shots under immense pressure. “I wouldn’t say I was nervous, it was more the adrenaline,” he asserted. “I just knew in that last leg hold your own for once in the game at least. Double 12, shows I can hit it!”
The darting world has been captivated by Littler’s meteoric rise, and this performance against Joyce only solidified his position as a dominant force. With defending champion Luke Humphries having been surprisingly eliminated earlier in the tournament, all eyes have increasingly turned to “The Nuke.” Littler acknowledged this increased scrutiny, stating, “There would have been expectation no matter what. Even if Luke got through, and I’ve obviously I’ve got through tonight, I think all eyes would still be on me.”4
Looking ahead, Littler now prepares for a quarter-final clash against Nathan Aspinall, a player he knows well. “Me and Nath have played plenty of times,” he remarked, anticipating another tough encounter. For now, a brief respite for the young phenom, who plans a quiet New Year’s Eve with his parents, opting for a relaxed dinner over a wild celebration. “I don’t really know what 2025 will hold in store for me, I haven’t really thought about it yet, but obviously I want to start the year strong and get that win over Nathan.”5
The victory over Ryan Joyce was more than just a win; it was a crucial test of character that Littler passed with flying colors. It underscored his remarkable talent, his burgeoning composure, and his unwavering belief in his own ability to navigate the most intense moments on the grandest stage.
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