Postpublished at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 30 December 2024
Littler 1-0 Joyce (2-2)
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
Ryan Joyce will be deflated if he lets this set slip from his grasp.
Luke Littler survives a scare to beat Ryan Joyce 4-3 and qualify for quarter-finals - read the report
Littler led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 but has been pegged back three times
RESULT: Eighth seed Stephen Bunting beats Luke Woodhouse 4-0
Afternoon session saw Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey & Callan Rydz reach quarter-finals
Sam Drury & Callum Matthews
Littler 1-0 Joyce (2-2)
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
Ryan Joyce will be deflated if he lets this set slip from his grasp.
Littler 1-0 Joyce (2-2)
Four breaks in a row in this second set and Luke Littler will have the darts with the chance to go two sets up.
Littler's scoring has not reached the heights we know it can but he's outdoing Ryan Joyce in that area.
This time he can afford a couple of missed double, returning to hit double 15 for a 13-dart break.
Littler 1-0 Joyce (1-2)
Ryan Joyce breaks again after Luke Littler misses five darts to win the leg.
A double 10 attempt ends in the double six for Littler then he misses double four and three darts at double two.
That allows Joyce to get himself down to 40 and he gets tops at the second attempt.
Littler 1-0 Joyce (1-1)
Luke Littler breaks back straightaway.
A 13-darter sealed with a double 15 after three 130-plus visits.
Littler 1-0 Joyce (0-1)
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
Luke Littler didn't adjust on that double and he won't be happy with it.
Littler 1-0 Joyce (0-1)
Superb set-up and Ryan Joyce breaks to start the second set!
A pair of 140s looked to have Luke Littler well on the way to a hold but he misses two darts at double 12.
Joyce's 137 set-up left him 28 and he hits double 14 first time. He's two of two on the doubles so far.
Littler 1-0 Joyce
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
There was nothing wrong with that set. It isn't electric quite yet, but we're getting there.
Littler 1-0 Joyce (3-1)
Luke Littler is on his way.
A solid hold, finished off with double 10 - what else? - and the 17-year-old moves in front.
Littler 0-0 Joyce (2-1)
Ryan Joyce gets himself up and running with a 12-dart hold.
A 140 followed by first first 180 of the night got him well ahead and he hits double eight to seal an 85 out.
Littler 0-0 Joyce (2-0)
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
This is the best start that Luke Littler has made to a match. It is explosive.
Littler 0-0 Joyce (2-0)
Double 10 again for Luke Littler to consolidate the break.
He was a little frustrated at missing tops and double 10 on his previous visit but Ryan Joyce wasn't able to take out 120 so the teenager got another shot at it.
We told you earlier that Manchester City captain Kyle Walker is at Ally Pally tonight.
He isn't the only England player there.
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is the crowd too.
What will Luke Littler and Ryan Joyce treat them to here?
Littler 0-0 Joyce (1-0)
What a start from Luke Littler!
A 180 to start, his next dart also finds the treble 20 to raises hopes of a nine-darter from the crowd.
However, the fifth deflects into the one but it doesn't stop Littler claiming a 13-dart break of throw by hitting double 10.
Littler v Joyce
Here we go, both players are on stage and the last match of the fourth round is just a few moments away.
Luke Littler is the big favourite to go through but if he gives Ryan Joyce a chance, he is clinical on the doubles so could make things very interesting.
Joyce will throw first...
In the past 12 months, teenager Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm.
After reaching the PDC World Championship final on his debut, Littler has gone on to become a face of the sport both on and off the stage.
How much do you know about "The Nuke" and his successes?
Littler v Joyce
Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports
Ryan Joyce's finishing was at 62% in the previous round - and Luke Littler has started slowly and offered up opportunities in the previous two rounds. I don't think they took them as much as they should have done, but Joyce will if he gets the opportunity.
Littler will be well aware of that and I expect him to come flying out of the blocks. I can't see him starting that slowly again.
Luke Littler, talking to Sky Sports: "I was asleep during the Luke Humphries v Peter White match. I woke up at half one or two in the morning, checked the score and I couldn't believe it.
"Now Luke's out, everyone will be looking at me."
Littler v Joyce
John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports
Luke Littler is at the stage of the tournament where just winning your matches is the most important thing.
Having that 100-plus average streak ended then he might come out more free and easy tonight.
Fourth round - Best of seven sets
Quarter-finals - Best of nine sets
Semi-finals - Best of 11 sets
Final - Best of 13 sets
Tie-breaks
From the second round onwards, there will be a tie-break in all matches where a deciding set must be won by two clear legs. If the score in the final set reaches 5-5 then a sudden-death leg will be played. There would be no throw for the bull in any sudden-death legs.
Littler v Joyce
That's right, it's Luke Littler time again.
The fourth seed - and tournament favourite - is up against Ryan Joyce for a place in the last eight.
Nathan Aspinall is waiting to play the winner.