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The lights go orange and Eye of the Tiger plays. Here comes Barney.

Any talk that Littler would have all the support seems off the mark. Van Barneveld is a darts legend and is getting appropriate respect from the crowd.

Littler is the first to be welcomed to the stage. He gets a huge reception from the Ally Pally crowd, especially when his age was announced.

A world championship contender at 16. What were you doing at Christmas aged 16? I was eating too many Miniature Heroes.

The walk-ons are about to begin, so it's time to vote - who will win this match?

Thumbs up on this post for Littler, thumbs down for van Barneveld. All vote... NOW!

Three-time world champion John Part, speaking on Sky Sports: "I can't see anyone riding out and winning easily. And I can't see them ending as great buddies. There will be tears!"

We don't often do darts live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website. We save them for the big occasions.

The last one I personally did was the 2023 final between Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen. It was an absolute classic, featuring THAT nine-dart leg. You know the one.

If we have anything near the excitement of that final tonight, we are in for a cracker.

Tonight sees the final matches of 2023, with the remaining eight players returning on 1 January for the quarter-finals.

But who will be toasting the new year, and who will be nursing a pint of lager (or age-appropriate soft drink) wondering what might have been?

An absolute cracker to start this evening's session, as Brendan Dolan beats two-time champion Gary Anderson 4-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

The Northern Irishman, the 28th seed, will face Luke Littler or Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight.

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Luke Littler

Round 1: Beat Christian Kist 3-0

Round 2: Beat Andrew Gilding 3-1

Round 3: Beat Matt Campbell 4-1

Raymond van Barneveld

Round 1: Bye

Round 2: Beat Radek Szaganski 3-1

Round 3: Beat Jim Williams 4-1

A huge boost for both of these players is that this quarter of the draw is massively open.

Fourth seed Peter Wright went out at the first hurdle, clearing the way for van Barneveld. Littler avoided 13th seed James Wade, who lost in round two.

Gerwyn Price, fifth seed and one of the competition favourites, was the pick for the semis from this quarter but was dumped out in round three by Brendon Dolan.

Gary Anderson is the highest seed in this quarter currently, at number 21.

It's a huge opportunity for Littler or van Barneveld - they just need to take it.

Brendan Dolan has just taken Gary Anderson to a deciding set.

Luke Littler v Raymond van Barneveld may be our main course, but as far as starters go, Anderson v Dolan is quite the deep-fried brie.

David, Liverpool: Good luck to you Luke, have a great weekend and enjoy your time, you have a long future ahead.

Gary Anderson, who was two sets and two legs down against Brendon Dolan, now leads 3-2 and is one set from the quarters.

The winner of that match faces the winner of Littler v van Barneveld, remember.

While Littler's rise has been the most eye-catching, we have to take a moment to appreciate Raymond Van Barneveld's recent career trajectory.

After retiring in 2019, the Dutchman regained his PDC tour card in February 2021 through the qualifying school, but collapsed at an event in Milton Keynes just a month later.

He returned to the World Championship in 2022 - his 30th appearance there - but exited in the second round.

A win tonight would seal a first worlds quarter-final appearance in six years.

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While Littler has acknowledged Van Barneveld as one of his heroes, the admiration extends both ways.

After his win on Friday that confirmed their meeting, Van Barneveld described Littler's talent as "something else".

"He's on another level," said Van Barneveld, won BDO world titles in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005 before moving to the PDC and triumphing in the 2007 final.

But the Dutchman also added that he would not be too caught up in the attention surrounding their encounter.

"I don't play the player, I play the board. I'm not afraid of Michael van Gerwen, I'm not afraid of [Luke] Humphries, I'm not afraid of Phil Taylor and I'm not afraid of Luke Littler."

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That 20.45 GMT scheduled start time? Forget it.

Gary Anderson has just pulled level with Brendon Dolan at 2-2, this one could go the distance.

Littler and van Barneveld will have to twiddle their thumbs and deal with their nerves a little longer.

Who are you backing to win tonight? Will the Littler dream continue, or can van Barneveld roll back the years?

And who are you tipping to be crowned world champion on 3 January?

Let us know your thoughts on anything darts related using the deets above.

The winner of this match will face either Gary Anderson or Brendon Dolan in the last eight.

That round four match is ongoing at the moment, with the score currently 2-1 to Dolan. The Northern Irishman raced into a two set lead and was 2-0 up in the third, but two-time champion Anderson has roared back. We could be waiting a little while.

Littler versus van Barneveld follows afterwards.

Luke Littler says he has played "non-stop" since he was 18 months old.

"By the age of four I got on to the proper board," Littler, who is ranked 164th by the PDC, told BBC Breakfast.

"From 18 months on I have been non-stop.

"When we moved to Warrington when I was eight or nine we started going out to pubs four to five times a week."

Littler added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "This is just a free shot for me," he said. "It's my first year, I can add a bit of prize money on to my ranking."

You can read more about darts' newest hero in our feature from 22 December here.

Littler was not even born the last time Van Barneveld won a world championship in 2007.

Although the Dutchman has not reached this stage of the competition since 2018, the contrasting experiences of the pair adds to the fairytale nature of their meeting.

After discovering his opponent on Friday, following Van Barneveld's victory over Welshman Jim Williams, Littler posted a video on social media of himself as a youngster in his living room, arms outstretched, re-enacting his idol's celebration.

Littler has been tipped as a darts prodigy for most of his life, saying he has been playing since he was 18 months old and has played on a full-sized board since he was four.

His mum has also posted videos of him throwing darts at a magnetic board while he was still wearing nappies.

His success has propelled him to overnight fame. Arsenal footballers Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale asked for a photograph with him in a hotel last week.

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