A couple of misses open the door for Brendan Dolan - and he walks through it with the bullseye!

That's his first leg on the board since the second of the whole match.

The two players share a laugh and joke before the start of the third leg. They look pretty relaxed given it is a World Championship quarter-final

Darren S: Luke Littler has just gone as favourite with the bookies to win the 2024 SPOTY. They're taking notice!

After those first two sets Luke Littler is averaging 106 and Brendan Dolan 79.

Incredible numbers.

Littler cruises through the first leg of the third set too, eventually hitting double 10 at the third attempt to complete a 102 checkout to go 1-0 up.

Brendan Dolan shakes his head as he spurns the chance of a 120 finish, leaving Luke Littler the chance to take the set with 16 and double tops.

Littler nails it to move into a 2-0 lead!

Was it ever in any doubt?

After that 11-dart finish, Luke Littler follows it up with a 12-dart finish to take the second leg!

The teenager is purring now.

Luke Littler has won 15 of 18 sets he has played this tournament - and he makes the early break in this set here!

A brilliant 171 leaves him with a 100 checkout and he lands double tops to go 1-0 up.

An early 180 in the fifth leg sets Luke Littler up in the deciding leg.

With a 170 finish on, after two treble 20s Littler turns to the crowd to ask whether he should go for the bull, prompting cheers from the Ally Pally.

He just misses it, but is able to close out the leg with his next throw.

The teenager is finding his stride!

Brendan Dolan nails a 180 and gives a little helicopter finger celebration, but he cannot check out 142.

Luke Littler takes his chance and gets himself back on terms.

Two legs all.

A 13-darter gets Luke Littler into the contest on his throw.

Little has a chance to close out 124 but is unable to take it. However he needs just one dart next tie round at double two to close it out.

Brendan Dolan gives Luke Littler a opening with a poor 43 but the 16-year-old can only respond with 41 early in the second leg.

Dolan leaves himself with 35 to take the set but misses the double 16. Littler is again unable to respond, though.

Dolan gets a second opportunity and takes the second leg with a double two.

Benjamin Kyber: Littler is bound for greatness, but I really hope the media give him some space to grow. Remember from mistakes made with Radacanu...

Luke Littler with a slightly nervous start.

Brendan Dolan lands two 100s and has chance to go for the bull but sets himself with a 101 finish to break early on.

He then lands a double 16 to take the first leg!

A few more days of stubble but Luke Littler still looks a boy among men at the Alexandra Palace.

Brendan Dolan is the world number 28. This will not be easy for the youngster.

Littler to throw first.

Alexandra Palace is absolutely bouncing as the man - or boy - of the moment Luke Littler enters the arena. He dishes out plenty of high fives with fans and hugs his family before stepping onto the stage.

'I'm Shipping up to Boston' by the Dropkick Murphy's then reverberates around the arena as Brendan Dolan joins him at the oche.

Here we go!

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

There were no matches at the Alexandra Palace yesterday and the players had New Year's Eve off.

Luke Littler is a Manchester United fan, but with the Red Devils having played the day before he took in Tottenham's 3-1 home win over Bournemouth from the comfy seats instead.

Brendan Dolan is having a brilliant tournament of his own. He has taken out two former champions on his way to the quarter-finals.

The 50-year-old Northern Irishman beat 2021 winner Gerwyn Price in the third round before overcoming two-time champion Gary Anderson to reach the quarter-finals for the second time in his career.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Luke Littler's route to the last eight has been a fairly straightforward one and so far he's managed to avoid some of the big names in his side of the draw.

Fourth seed Peter Wright went out at the first hurdle to Welshman Jim Williams while Littler avoided 13th seed James Wade, who lost in round two to Canada's Matt Campbell.

Gerwyn Price, fifth seed and tipped to be one of the favourites, was the pick for the semis from this part of the draw but was knocked out in round three by Brendan Dolan.

Littler faced his sternest test in the fourth round when he beat Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld, the 2007 champion.

Round 1: Beat Christian Kist 3-0

Round 2: Beat Andrew Gilding 3-1

Round 3: Beat Matt Campbell 4-1

Round 4: Raymond van Barneveld 4-1

Rob Cross speaking to Sky Sports: "4-0 down and I've not played. I didn't feel like myself. I just pushed on. Credit to Chris early on, he gave me a kick in the mouth. It's all about me, though. I still believed even when I was 4-0 down. I have got nerves of steel.

"If I play Luke Littler in the semis... look, he is 16 and whatever he achieves he has a bright future. If he comes through that he will probably be the favourite!"

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a whirlwind fortnight or so for 16-year-old Luke Littler at the PDC World Darts Championship and he admitted after his last win he had started to think about going all the way.

"I think I am daring to dream now. I'm so young, only 16 and I have got nothing to fear. I have got no-one to fear," Littler said.

"The thought of winning it gives me goosebumps. I've got three junior titles but this is the biggest one of all. I'm only three games away."