Luke Littler will start his defence of the Bahrain Darts Masters in opposition to PDC Asian champion Lourence Ilagan, as he prepares to make his first outing as world champion on Thursday night.
The final time Littler confronted the Filipino in November, the roof was virtually raised in Wolverhampton on the Grand Slam of Darts as {the teenager} fell simply in need of a nine-darter, lacking double 12 in an eventual 5-3 victory.
Littler marked his arrival on the worldwide stage with a nine-darter on his strategy to victory in Bahrain final yr, defeating Michael van Gerwen within the remaining to triumph on his World Collection debut.
Having additionally defeated Van Gerwen to elevate the long-lasting Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace on January 3, the teenage sensation will make his return to motion in opposition to the enigmatic Ilagan.
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Emma Paton, Mark Webster and Richard Ashdown focus on if Littler can break Phil Taylor’s World Darts Championship titles file of 16
World No 1 Luke Humphries will kick off his marketing campaign in opposition to native qualifier Abdulla Saeed as he bids to return to profitable methods following his last-16 exit on the World Darts Championship.
Humphries ran out a 6-0 winner when the pair met on the identical stage of final yr’s occasion, and he will probably be hoping for a repeat efficiency as he maintains his ever-present file in Bahrain.
Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey will function among the many eight PDC representatives this week, and the debutants have been pitted in opposition to Nitin Kumar and Basem Mahmood respectively.
Reigning Masters champion Bunting climbed to a career-high of world No 5 following his run to the World Championship semi-finals, and he’ll make his Bahrain bow in opposition to India’s premier participant Kumar.
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Try a number of the most memorable moments from this yr’s World Darts Championship together with Littler’s record-breaking set, some Barrioke and two nine-darters
In the meantime, Dobey, additionally a semi-finalist at Alexandra Palace, faces Bahrain’s Mahmood for a spot within the quarter-finals, as he prepares to compete in his first world World Collection occasion.
2018 world champion Rob Cross faces a tricky check in opposition to Paolo Nebrida, who defeated Jim Williams and Ross Smith to succeed in the third spherical on the World Championship.
Elsewhere, 2021 world champion Gerwyn Value will meet Hong Kong’s Lok Yin Lee, with 2023 World Matchplay winner Nathan Aspinall pitted in opposition to PDC China champion Xiaochen Zong.
Peter Wright completes the eight-player PDC line-up. The 2-time world champion will start his marketing campaign in opposition to 2024 PDC Asian Tour Order of Benefit winner Alexis Toylo.
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Highlights of Littler in opposition to Michael van Gerwen within the remaining of the World Darts Championship
Littler: If I need Taylor’s file, I can beat it
Littler has been on a meteoric rise since his sensational run to the ultimate of the World Championship in January 2024 and capped choosing up 10 titles in his maiden yr on the skilled circuit by claiming the largest prize of all on the second time of asking.
The younger star believes he “has the ability” to interrupt Phil ‘The Energy’ Taylor’s astonishing file of 16 world titles.
“Deep down, if I want to try and break the record then I’m sure I’ve got the ability to,” Littler mentioned.
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Littler mirrored on his first World Darts Championship win and shared his aspirations to interrupt Taylor’s file
“If I want it, I’m sure I’ll do it. I just need to keep going. The calendar is stacked all year round.
“I’ve mentioned in earlier interviews, if I win each main title in my profession I will be completely satisfied, however clearly I might like so as to add to the world titles.”
Watch Premier League Darts 2025 live on Sky Sports every Thursday from February 6 or stream with NOW.
