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World Darts Championship: Luke Littler beats Rob Cross and overcomes crowd jeers to book quarter-final spot at Alexandra Palace | Darts News
World No 1 Luke Littler is through to the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship after battling to a 4-2 victory over former world champion Rob Cross at the Alexandra Palace.
Littler delivered another impressive performance as he looks to become the first player since Gary Anderson to win back-to-back world titles, firing a 106.58 average and an incredible 17 maximums to reach the last eight for the third consecutive year.
The Nuke recovered from losing his first set of the tournament to win the next two and open a 3-1 advantage, only for Cross to fight back by winning the next set with a stunning 126 finish on the bullseye.
Cross missed a dart that would have taken an absorbing contest to a final-set decider, as Littler closed out victory – having received boos from the crowd – to set up a quarter-final against either Luke Woodhouse or Krzysztof Ratajski.
“Can I just say one thing – you guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me!” Littler said on stage after his victory. “I just had to hold, Rob [Cross] broke me, I broke him back.
“I just saw the stats then – I wasn’t thinking of anything – I just wanted to win. It was hostile, no one wanted me to win. They were wrong. It [title defence] is not in reach just yet, you have got to get to the final.”
Ryan Searle also cruised into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over James Hurrell, while the other match of the evening – and the last of the third round – saw Josh Rock battle back from a set down to beat Callan Rydz 4-1.
More to follow…
Searle races past Hurrell into last eight
‘Heavy Metal’ Searle continued his record of not dropping a set in this year’s World Darts Championship as he booked a maiden quarter-final appearance by beating Hurrell in another dominant display.
Hurrell missed a set dart on tops as Searle pinched the opener in a final-leg decider, before Searle fired a 109 checkout on his way to wrapping up the second set in straight legs.
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Ryan Searle defeated James Hurrell 4-0 to move through to the quarter finals of the World Darts Championship
Searle dropped just two more legs on his way to winning the remaining two sets, meaning he will head into his quarter-final against Jonny Clayton or Andreas Harrysson have dropped only 11 legs during his first four matches.
“Honestly, I thought that was rubbish!” Searle told Sky Sports. “To have a 100 (average) is massive. I don’t really know what happened then. Just threw a few darts and managed to win. We’ll take it and have a couple of days off now.”
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James Hurrell got stuck to the oche during his match against Ryan Searle at the Alexandra Palace
Rock fires past emotional Rydz
Rock paid tribute to Rydz’s grandfather, who passed away in the days leading up to their match, after defeating the Englishman to reach the fourth round for the first time since 2023.
Rydz was visibly emotional and looked up to the sky on multiple occasions during an entertaining contest, where he won the opening set before both players went seven darts into a perfect leg during the second.
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Josh Rock and Callan Rydz both had nine-darter attempts in back-to-back legs during the second set of their last-16 clash
Rock produced an 11-dart break and responded to Rydz winning the next in 10 darts to claim a final-leg decider, levelling the contest, then won each of the next three sets to set up a last-16 meeting with Justin Hood.
“I was a man on a mission but it – I want to say sorry to Callan and his family for the loss of his grandad,” Rock told Sky Sports. “I am up here to do a job and I did my job but I want to send my condolences to the Rydz family.
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Josh Rock talked up his hopes of challenging for a maiden world title and paid tribute to Callan Rydz’s grandad after his fourth-round win
“I think I had to go a set down to pick up. I am not here to make the numbers up, I am here to win the title. If I keep playing the way I know I can, I can win the title.”
What’s next?
The remaining six fourth-round ties take place on Tuesday, with world No 2 Luke Humphries headlining the evening session against Kevin Doets after Michael van Gerwen takes on Gary Anderson in an eagerly-anticipated contest.
The other match of the evening sees Charlie Manby play Gian van Veen, while the afternoon session has Luke Woodhouse up against Krzysztof Ratajski, Jonny Clayton taking on Andreas Harrysson and Justin Hood going up against Josh Rock.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407). Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
