Summary

Live Reporting

Sam Drury & Callum Matthews

  1. Littler 1-1 White (1-0)

    An excellent 133 set-up for Luke Littler leaves him needing tops.

    He only needs one dart at it and the fourth seed is up and running in the third set with a 13-darter.

  2. Littler 1-1 White

    John Part
    Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

    To beat a player like Ian White you need to be much more consistent than Luke Littler has been so far and really pummel his heart.

  3. Littler 1-1 White

    Two sets in and Ian White is averaging more than Luke Littler.

    It's 94.08 to 90.44 in Diamond's favour. I can assure you, not many people expected that to be the case.

  4. Littler 1-1 White

    Dan Dawson
    Commentator on Sky Sports

    Luke LittlerGetty Images

    Luke Littler doesn't look worried at the moment but that could change.

  5. White levels it up

    Littler 1-1 White (1-3)

    Ian White misses two darts for the set... but Luke Littler misses three to force a decider.

    This time White isn't going to let the opportunity pass him by. He hits double five and it is all square.

    That wasn't in the plan for Littler. He had started to ramp things up but stumbles again at the key moment.

  6. Littler 1-0 White (1-2)

    John Part
    Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

    It might actually work in Luke Littler's favour that Ian White is pushing him.

  7. Littler takes out 114

    Littler 1-0 White (1-2)

    Luke Littler hits back with a superb finish!

    After an 11-dart break of throw from Ian White, Littler responds with a 12-dart break of his own.

    White had got down to the big fish but three loose darts means he is still left with 130.

    Littler's ruthless finishing means he never even gets a look at it.

  8. 'Littler's performance levels may concern him'

    Littler 1-0 White (0-2)

    John Part
    Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

    Luke LittlerGetty Images

    Luke Littler has never been timid in crunch situations. He's made of pretty stern competitive stuff.

    But, if you have to keep going to well, sometimes there will be no water left. That probably isn't a concern here but performance levels may be a concern. You don't want to keep starting slowly.

  9. Littler 1-0 White (0-2)

    Dan Dawson
    Commentator on Sky Sports

    Ian White is giving as good as he's getting here.

  10. White breaks

    Littler 1-0 White (0-2)

    Boos from the crowd as Luke Littler's fourth dart misses the treble 20 after he starts with a 180.

    Ian White gets back into the leg with a 180 of his own and breaks with a superb two-dart finish on 86!

    Treble 18, double 16. Excellent from White.

  11. Littler 1-0 White (0-1)

    Solid stuff from Ian White, combined with a sloppy start to the leg from Luke Littler leads to a simple enough hold for White.

    He misses tops to give Littler a shot at 140 but the 17-year-old can't get it.

    White hits double 10 to wrap up the leg.

  12. Littler 1-0 White

    John Part
    Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

    There is still a long ride ahead for Luke Littler in this tournament. The pressure will increase each time.

  13. Littler takes the first set

    Littler 1-0 White (3-2)

    Not at his best but Luke Littler is a set up.

    A 14-dart hold is sealed on tops and the tournament favourite leads after an early scare.

    Ian White has shown enough that 'The Nuke' will know he can't afford to let his standards drop too much but it's the teenager with the edge.

  14. Littler breaks back

    Littler 0-0 White (2-2)

    Luke LittlerPA Media

    Ian White is throwing for the set and has a dart to win it.

    However, he misses tops and Luke Littler comes in to hit double 10 at the second attempt.

    Now it's Littler with the darts in the deciding leg of this first set.

  15. Littler 0-0 White (1-2)

    Well, well, well.

    Ian White breaks after both players miss countless darts at double.

    Luke Littler gifted White the chance to break, he seemed to have missed it when three darts at double went begging.

    However, Littler misses three of his own and White returns to hit double one.

    Now the crowd sing White's name...

  16. Littler 0-0 White (1-1)

    Ian WhiteGetty Images

    Super response from Ian White as he gets himself on the board with a 14-dart hold, finishing on tops.

    He's got plenty of experience but always nice to get an early settler.

  17. Littler 0-0 White (1-0)

    All a little bit messy at the end but Luke Littler holds to start the match.

    It takes him 20 darts and missing double 10 by a long way to leave double seven.

    But he quickly switches and hits first time as if that was always the plan.

  18. Littler v White

    Luke LittlerGetty Images

    The crowd are really going for it as Luke Littler makes his way to the stage.

    Ian White got a pretty good reception as well but it's Littler's name being chanted by the crowd as he prepares to throw first...

  19. 'White may be able to deal with Littler for a few sets'

    Littler v White

    John Part
    Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

    Ian White has been around a while and he's playing well. He won't be worried, he knows he can play darts.

    He'll see the opportunity, he'll know there's no expectation on him to win. He might be able to live with Littler for a few sets.

  20. Who is Ian White?

    Ian WhiteGetty Images

    Luke Littler's next challenge is 54-year-old Ian White, who is also from Runcorn like the teenager.

    White has won 13 PDC ranking events and has reached one major semi-final, when he made the last four of the 2019 Players Championship finals.

    His best run at the World Championship saw him make the quarter-finals in 2014.

    In 2024, he's made the third round at the UK Open and the second round at the Players Championship.

    He was ranked 57th in the PDC's Order of Merit before this tournament got under way.