World Darts Championship draw LIVE: Luke Littler could face Fallon Sherrock in huge clash – stream FREE, updates
THE draw for the World Darts Championship has concluded - and there are some mouthwatering ties in store!
Luke Littler has been drawn a huge opening clash against Fallon Sherrock, if she defeats Ryan Meikle.
While reigning champion Luke Humphries - who is in the same half of the draw as Littler - will face Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito.
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Modus Super Series results
van Schie 4-1 Whitehead
Pilgrim 4-0 Klein
Lipscombe 3-4 Reynolds
Klien 1-4 van Schie
Whitehead 3-4 Reynolds
Pilgrim 4-1 Lipscombe
Reynolds 4-0 Klein
Van Schie 4-1 Pilgrim
Lipscombe 4-3 Whitehead
van Schie 4-0 Reynolds
Klein 0-4 Lipscombe
Pilgrim 1-2 Whitehead - L
Littler's origins
Luke Littler has looked ahead to the World Championships in which he rose to pominence at last year.
He told Sky Sports: "It all started here at the World Championships.
"I didn't think to myself at the start of the year: 'You'll pick up ten titles, three majors.'
"But it all just comes down to me and my performances."
Modus Super Series results
Here are the latest results from the Modus Super Series action today...
Van Schie 4-1 Whitehead
Pilgrim 4-0 Klein
Lipscombe 3-4 Reynolds
Klien 1-4 Van Schie
Whitehead 3-4 Reynolds
Pilgrim 4-1 Lipscombe
Reynolds 4-0 Klein
Van Schie 4-1 Pilgrim
Lipscombe 1-1 Whitehead - L
Littler showing nerves
Body language expert Darren Stanton has claimed that Luke Littler was showing his nerves in the Players Championship Final on Sunday.
Stanton told : "Littler was very nervous. He kept touching the top of his head.
"That’s a classic distress signal as in feeling awkward or uncomfortable in a situation, even though he was being given praise.
"He was sweating a lot, which obviously isn’t helped by the lights, but essentially the repeated looks down and the hand-to-mouth gestures, and touching the back and top of his head, indicates a combination of stress, anxiety and a bit of being pissed off, to be blunt.
"However, I think Littler can pull it back."
MVG not worried about Lukes
Michael van Gerwen also insisted that he is not concerned about the prospect of coming up against either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries.
He said: "I'm not worrying about that.
"I just have to worry about myself and my own game.
"Of course they are doing well, but we've seen before no one is unbeatable.
"One day they can win a tournament, the next they can lose first round."
Credit: Rex MVG's fighting talk
Michael van Gerwen has insisted he is ready to perform at the Darts World Championships despite his stuttering form.
He told Sky Sports: "I didn't have the best last few months of my career, so yeah, it's a bit different for me this time.
"First of all I need to know when I'm going to play, what day and who I'm going to play. Then I can make plans.
""I have underperformed this year, we don't have to deny it. I didn't do enough. Of course I could have won a couple more Euro Tours, the Premier League and the Matchplay I definitely should have won.
"Now, it's about how I answer that disappointment. I've been in more disappointing positions before and if anyone can answer this, it's me... One thing is, I never underperform at the World Championship."
Sherrock reacts to draw
Fallon Sherrock has reacted to a potential tie against Luke Littler at the Darts World Championships.
The darts star will have to beat Ryan Meikle in order to face the teen sensation.
She wrote: "So I now know I'll be playing Ryan Meikle in round one at the @OfficialPDC World Championship.
"The winner will play a certain Mr Littler in round two.
"Can't wait to play at the Palace again."
Credit: Rex Ace happy with 'hard work'
Jeffrey de Zwaan was thrilled to make one of the final qualifying spot for the Darts World Championships.
He told AD.nl: "I threw very strong except for the first game.
"That first pot I had to get through for a while, but otherwise it looked very good. I played okay all year, but didn't really expect to make it to the World Championship because of that.
"At such a one-day tournament you just have to show it.
"If it's a one-time setback you don't make it. I am extremely happy that the hard work has finally paid off."
'Could be different' - Littler
Luke Littler has admitted it could feel ";a bit different" if he comes up against Fallon Sherrock at the World Darts Championship if she beats Ryan Meikle.
He told Sky Sports: If I do come across her, I don't know what the crowd would be like.
"Against Fallon, it might be a bit different.
"Good luck to them both. It should be a really interesting game, because Ryan's playing really good, and so is Fallon.
"It won't be easy [against either of them]. No game will be easy this year, but it'll be a tough test for both of them facing each other in the first round.
"Either way, I'm very confident, whoever wins. I just can't wait to get on stage.
"Ever since the Worlds [last year] it has been crazy; this is where it all started for me. The buzz is there, I can feel it."
What is the prize money at the WDC?
Here is a look at how the £2.5million purse is split at the World Darts Championship.
Winner: £500,000
Runner-Up: £200,000
Semi-Final: £100,000
Quarter-Final: £50,000
Fourth Round: £35,000
Third Round: £25,000
Second Round: £15,000
First Round: £7,500
World Championship – full draw
Here is how the first round will look, plus the potential round two ties.
Opening quarter
Luke Humphries (1) vs Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito
Raymond van Barneveld (32) vs Nick Kenny or Stowe Buntz
James Wade (16) vs Jermaine Wattimena or Stefan Bellmont
Peter Wright (17) vs Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto
Stephen Bunting (8) vs Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt
Dirk van Duijvenbode (25) vs Madars Razma or Christian Kist
Damon Heta (9) vs Connor Scutt or Ben Robb
Mike De Decker (24) vs Luke Woodhouse or Lourence IlaganSecond quarter
Luke Littler (4) vs Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock
Ritchie Edhouse (29) vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing
Danny Noppert (13) vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas
Ryan Searle (20) vs Mensur Suljovic or Matt Campbell
Rob Cross (5) vs Scott Williams or Niko Springer
Gian van Veen (28) vs Ricardo Pietreczko or Xiaochen Zong
Nathan Aspinall (12) vs Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates
Andrew Gilding (21) vs Martin Lukeman or Nitin KumarThird quarter
Michael Smith (2) vs Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Krzysztof Ratajski (31) vs Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo
Chris Dobey (15) vs Stephen Burton or Alexander Merkx
Josh Rock (18) vs Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin
Jonny Clayton (7) vs Mickey Mansell or Tomoya Goto
Daryl Gurney (26) vs Florian Hempel or Jeffrey De Zwaan
Gerwyn Price (10) vs Kim Huybrechts or Keane Barry
Joe Culley (23) vs Wessel Nijman or Cameron CarolissenFourth quarter
Michael van Gerwen (3) vs James Hurrell or Jim Long
Brendan Dolan (30) vs Chris Landman or Lok Yin Lee
Gary Anderson (14) vs Jeffrey de Graaf vs Rashad Sweeting
Ross Smith (19) vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida
Dave Chisnall (6) vs Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers
Gabriel Clemens (27) vs Niels Zonneveld or Robert Owen
Dimitri van den Bergh (11) vs William O’Connor or Dylan Slevin
Martin Schindler (22) vs Callan Rydz or Romeo GrbavacRising icon Littler could face Fallon idol
Luke Littler could face Fallon Sherrock in a sensational Ally Pally showdown – as he tries to make one punter £60,000 richer! writes ROB MAUL.
The Nuke – the 2-1 title favourite – will take on the Queen of the Palace before Christmas if she gets past Suffolk star Ryan Meikle in the first round.
The two throwers have transformed the sport and set history in their own ways over the past five years. Littler, 17, aims to be the youngest world darts champ ever after losing the 2024 final to Luke Humphries.
Qualifier Sherrock, 30, became the first woman to beat men at world level, back in December 2019, and earned the respect of feminist icon Billie Jean King.
If that Box Office clash happens between the tungsten duo, then it will surely split loyalties in the crowd as to who to support.
It was announced on the day of the draw that Paddy Power will splash out £180,000 for every nine-darter hit during the 16-day event, which starts on Sunday December 15.
They will dish out £60,000 to the player that performs the feat, send £60,000 to the Prostate Cancer UK charity and give £60,000 to one FAN who has attended that session.
It is believed a spotlight might pick out the winner in the 3,300-capacity arena – and what a lovely Christmas bonus that would be!
Littler has hit four perfect legs throughout 2024 and one more before December 31 would be a record on the pro circuit.
Luke's fever hitch?
Phil Taylor reckons Luke Humphries’ HEALTH could be the key to retaining his world title.
The Ally Pally legend told : “It all depends on how he feels.
“It’s a funny time of the year as the weather is dropping, the temperature is always cold and you get all of the viruses coming out, the colds, the flu and everything.
“As long as he goes in there all fit and healthy, he’s got every chance of retaining it.
“There’s a lot more to it than just playing darts.”
Littler eyes SPOTY history
The closest darts came to celebrating BBC Sports Personality of the Year award was 2010.
Phil Taylor, whose 16 world titles included glory in 2009 and 2010, was SPOTY runner-up to Northern Irish jockey AP McCoy 14 years ago.
Credit: Getty Littler has won ten titles this year, including the Premier League crown and the Grand Slam of Darts, earning more than £1million in oche prize money.
He is up to fourth in the world rankings and that means he would meet world No.1 Humphries in the semi-finals if both advance.
The BBC are likely to shortlist him for the annual SPOTY award, which the public then vote for.
Littler said: “I don’t know if I will win it or not.
“The BBC will look at the athletes that are running, doing all their stuff, they don’t look too much at the darts.
“I know Phil Taylor finished second one year. Obviously, I’d like to go one step ahead and win it. If not, I will try again next year.”
Eat your dart out!
Phil Taylor has revealed one tasty difference between himself and Luke Littler.
The Power believes the Nuke will dominant darts like he did - but with contrasting eating habits.
Littler revealed he scoffed a chocolate bar and downed a fizzy drink during the interval of his Grand Slam of Darts final victory.
Taylor backed the 17-year-old's choice to do things totally his way.
But asked if he ate while playing, Taylor gave a powerful reaosn why he didn't.
He told https: : "No, I was always hungry and never ate before I went on. It keeps you sharp and alert. Two or three hours before I played, I would never eat.
"I would have something after I had finished (the game). I would eat whatever was open, a Chinese, an Indian or whatever was available really.
"We would sometimes make some sandwiches when we got back.
"It would depend on where we were as I had my own place in Blackpool so we would have something when we got in. I had a lodge. It was beautiful."
World Championship - full draw
In case you missed it - here's how the first round will look, plus the potential round two ties.
Opening quarter
Luke Humphries (1) vs Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito
Raymond van Barneveld (32) vs Nick Kenny or Stowe Buntz
James Wade (16) vs Jermaine Wattimena or Stefan Bellmont
Peter Wright (17) vs Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto
Stephen Bunting (8) vs Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt
Dirk van Duijvenbode (25) vs Madars Razma or Christian Kist
Damon Heta (9) vs Connor Scutt or Ben Robb
Mike De Decker (24) vs Luke Woodhouse or Lourence IlaganSecond quarter
Luke Littler (4) vs Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock
Ritchie Edhouse (29) vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing
Danny Noppert (13) vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas
Ryan Searle (20) vs Mensur Suljovic or Matt Campbell
Rob Cross (5) vs Scott Williams or Niko Springer
Gian van Veen (28) vs Ricardo Pietreczko or Xiaochen Zong
Nathan Aspinall (12) vs Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates
Andrew Gilding (21) vs Martin Lukeman or Nitin KumarThird quarter
Michael Smith (2) vs Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Krzysztof Ratajski (31) vs Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo
Chris Dobey (15) vs Stephen Burton or Alexander Merkx
Josh Rock (18) vs Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin
Jonny Clayton (7) vs Mickey Mansell or Tomoya Goto
Daryl Gurney (26) vs Florian Hempel or Jeffrey De Zwaan
Gerwyn Price (10) vs Kim Huybrechts or Keane Barry
Joe Culley (23) vs Wessel Nijman or Cameron CarolissenFourth quarter
Michael van Gerwen (3) vs James Hurrell or Jim Long
Brendan Dolan (30) vs Chris Landman or Lok Yin Lee
Gary Anderson (14) vs Jeffrey de Graaf vs Rashad Sweeting
Ross Smith (19) vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida
Dave Chisnall (6) vs Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers
Gabriel Clemens (27) vs Niels Zonneveld or Robert Owen
Dimitri van den Bergh (11) vs William O’Connor or Dylan Slevin
Martin Schindler (22) vs Callan Rydz or Romeo Grbavac'Wright needs rest to get back to his best'
Phil Tayor reckons struggling Peter Wright could win another World Championship - if he gets in a good rest!
Wright, the 2020 and 2022 world champion, will face Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto in this year's first round.
Credit: Rex All-time great Taylor believes the 54-year-old's fortunes at the Ally Pally this year could come down to how refreshed he is.
The 16-time world champ told : "It depends on what Peter Wright turns up; he has won a title this year.
"Peter has really pushed the boat out over the years; he went to every tournament and was on the road every time.
"He has burnt the candle from both ends a little bit.
"He needs to rest up a little bit now and focus on the Worlds, that’s what he needs to do. He is still capable of winning another World Championship."
Noa-Lynn hopes to face Bully Boy
History-maker Noa-Lynn van Leuven hopes to set up a second-round clash against 2023 world champion Michael Smith.
Van Leuven, 28, will be the first trans competitor ever at the World Championship.
Credit: Rex She'll face fellow Dutch star Kevin Doets in her opening match at the Ally Pally next month.
The winner then takes on "Bully Boy" Smith, 34, who still sits second in the PDC rankings.
Despite some trolling, Van Leuven has had plenty of backing.
She said this month: "It's rough going out on the stage but I've got a lot of support".
Could Nuke become first darts player to win SPOTY?
The closest darts came to celebrating BBC Sports Personality of the Year award was 2010.
Phil Taylor, whose 16 world titles included glory in 2009 and 2010, was SPOTY runner-up to Northern Irish jockey AP McCoy 14 years ago.
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are the two favourites for Ally PallyCredit: Getty Littler has won ten titles this year, including the Premier League crown and the Grand Slam of Darts, earning more than £1million in oche prize money.
He is up to fourth in the world rankings and that means he would meet world No.1 Humphries in the semi-finals if both advance.
The BBC are likely to shortlist him for the annual SPOTY award, which the public then vote for.
Littler said: “I don’t know if I will win it or not.
“The BBC will look at the athletes that are running, doing all their stuff, they don’t look too much at the darts.
“I know Phil Taylor finished second one year. Obviously, I’d like to go one step ahead and win it. If not, I will try again next year.”
Ally Pally is perfect time for my fifth nine
Luke Littler dreams of landing his fifth nine-darter of the year at the World Championship.
The Warrington whizkid, 17, said: “Well, I’ve said that when you’re playing that well you can feel it.
“You feel yourself hitting that double 12. There’s a bit of money to be earned if the perfect leg does go in.
“I want to break the record. I need to, I want to try and hit that fifth one of the year.
“It doesn’t have to be me – but I would like it to be.
“If a nine-darter comes with it or the great checkouts, then great. I want to hit the nine for my own sake.”
Littler can make one punter £60k richer...
Luke Littler could face Fallon Sherrock in a sensational Ally Pally showdown – as he tries to make one punter £60,000 richer! writes ROB MAUL.
The Nuke – the 2-1 title favourite – will take on the Queen of the Palace before Christmas if she gets past Suffolk star Ryan Meikle in the first round.
The two throwers have transformed the sport and set history in their own ways over the past five years. Littler, 17, aims to be the youngest world darts champ ever after losing the 2024 final to Luke Humphries.
Qualifier Sherrock, 30, became the first woman to beat men at world level, back in December 2019, and earned the respect of feminist icon Billie Jean King.
If that Box Office clash happens between the tungsten duo, then it will surely split loyalties in the crowd as to who to support.
It was announced on the day of the draw that Paddy Power will splash out £180,000 for every nine-darter hit during the 16-day event, which starts on Sunday December 15.
They will dish out £60,000 to the player that performs the feat, send £60,000 to the Prostate Cancer UK charity and give £60,000 to one FAN who has attended that session.
It is believed a spotlight might pick out the winner in the 3,300-capacity arena – and what a lovely Christmas bonus that would be!
Littler has hit four perfect legs throughout 2024 and one more before December 31 would be a record on the pro circuit.
Will weather stop Humphries being on cloud nine?
Phil Taylor reckons Luke Humphries' HEALTH could be the key to retaining his world title.
The Ally Pally legend told : "It all depends on how he feels.
Credit: Rex "It's a funny time of the year as the weather is dropping, the temperature is always cold and you get all of the viruses coming out, the colds, the flu and everything.
"As long as he goes in there all fit and healthy, he’s got every chance of retaining it.
"There’s a lot more to it than just playing darts."
Yule love the hectic schedule...
Starting at the Ally Pally on Sunday December 15, the World Championship is the treble topping on the Christmas cake for darts fans!
Running through to Friday January 3, there's virtually no let-up in oche action over the festive period.
Luke Littler might face Fallen Sherrock in round twoCredit: Getty December 15 sees three first-round matches and one second-round clash.
Next comes eight days of live darts.
The only real break is Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.
Then we're back with the third round, including a double session on December 27.
By December 30 all the thi5rd and fourth-round ties will be over.
New Year's Eve is a night off before the quarter-finals on January 1.
The semi-finals are the following day - could that mean Luke Humphries vs Luke Littler.
And on January 3 it's the final.
So... Will it be a Happy Nuke Year?
Bottom (fourth quarter) of draw
Michael van Gerwen (3) vs James Hurrell or Jim Long
Brendan Dolan (30) vs Chris Landman or Lok Yin Lee
Gary Anderson (14) vs Jeffrey de Graaf vs Rashad Sweeting
Ross Smith (19) vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida
Dave Chisnall (6) vs Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers
Gabriel Clemens (27) vs Niels Zonneveld or Robert Owen
Dimitri van den Bergh (11) vs William O'Connor or Dylan Slevin
Martin Schindler (22) vs Callan Rydz or Romeo GrbavacDraw - third quarter
Michael Smith (2) vs Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Krzysztof Ratajski (31) vs Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo
Chris Dobey (15) vs Stephen Burton or Alexander Merkx
Josh Rock (18) vs Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin
Jonny Clayton (7) vs Mickey Mansell or Tomoya Goto
Daryl Gurney (26) vs Florian Hempel or Jeffrey De Zwaan
Gerwyn Price (10) vs Kim Huybrechts or Keane Barry
Joe Culley (23) vs Wessel Nijman or Cameron Carolissen
