World Darts Championship LIVE RESULTS: Action ON NOW as Searle goes through while Gary Anderson plays TONIGHT – updates
THE World Darts Championship action is expected to bring even more drama today after Luke Littler broke down in TEARS following his opening win last night.
Teen sensation Littler, 17, started his darts campaign with a superb win over Ryan Meikle - but then had to cut short an interview after becoming emotional at the support he'd been shown.
Two-time PDC World Champion Gary Anderson faces Jeffrey De Graaf tonight and he'll be hoping to join Ryan Searle in the next round following his whitewash against Matt Campbell.
- Start time: From 12.40pm GMT
- Live stream: NOW / Sky Sports app
- TV channel: Sky Sports Darts
- Explainer: What is the prize money?
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On to the next!
Nick Kenny walks on to Blur's Song 2.
While Raymond van Barneveld is ready - the sirens wail before Eye of the Tiger belts out around Ally Pally.
He makes his way to the stage.
Joyce 3-2 Noppert (3-1)
What a time to get ANOTHER 180, Noppert.
174 response from Joyce leaves him a 36 finish. That's an amazing set up.
And he sees off Danny Noppert with a double 18.
That was relentless from Joyce.
Joyce 2-2 Noppert (2-1)
Joyce's set up is brilliant. 177 leaves 28.
Noppert, on 196, leaves 99.
Double 14 breaks Noppert's throw, that's awesome from Joyce.
Joyce 1-2 Noppert (2-1)
Noppert needs 126 to go.
He leaves the bullseye... but he just hits green.
Joyce then seals it with a 68 checkout.
Joyce 0-2 Noppert (2-1)
Noppert with his sixth 180 of the match, but then lets himself down with a 57 score.
However, he's on a finish first - with 164. He sets himself up beautifully with a double 12.
Joyce can't finish, but Noppert leaves an untidy 6.
Noppert then forced to bust, it's all going wrong.
Joyce is a double 10 away from stealing this one, and he misses!
2, then double 2 gets Noppert home.
Joyce 0-1 Noppert (2-1)
Noppert is struggling here.
46 leaves him 51. He's made a big mess of that.
Joyce is on 52, so there's some pressure on him.
Somehow Noppert pulls out 51 with a double 20 on his return.
Joyce 3-2 Noppert (2-1)
Joyce then throws his first maximum of the match.
He's flying now.
171 then comes out of nowhere for Joyce.
But Noppert is fighting and rocks up with a 180 of his own.
However, it's Joyce with the 12-darter! He's taken the set.
Joyce 2-1 Noppert (1-1)
Ah that's special!
A first ton plus finish of the match puts Joyce ahead.
124! Mega.
Joyce 1-1 Noppert (1-1)
That was a great effort from Noppert.
A bull away from a 161 finish.
Then Joyce is a double 16 away from a ton plus checkout.
Noppert breaks straight back on his return.
Joyce 1-0 Noppert (1-1)
128 - a tricky finish for Noppert.
And he leaves 36.
Joyce needs 52 to go to break the throw.
He finds the double 8, with a bit of adjustment, to take the opening leg.
Joyce 3-2 Noppert (1-1)
What a time to get a 180, Noppert.
Three legs on the spin he's hit maximums.
Joyce couldn't fins his ton plus finish, can Noppert find 54?
No, his darts clips the wire outside of the double 10. Such drama!
Double 16 and Joyce gets a 70 checkout to level the game on sets.
Joyce 2-2 Noppert (0-1)
Joyce just gone off the boil in this leg.
Noppert needs a 74 finish, but can only find 54 - missing double tops.
Joyce won't finish 154 - leaving 64.
Now, we're at two apiece as the Dutchman gets the double 10.
Joyce 2-1 Noppert (0-1)
Joyce is on 16, with Noppert miles out on 108.
Double 8 needed for Joyce.
His first dart is a good guide, his second a very good guide - and the third gets it!
Joyce 1-1 Noppert (0-1)
Joyce gets himself level.
He needed that leg to get back into this leg, and not let Noppert run away with it.
That'll fire him up in this set.
Joyce 0-1 Noppert (0-1)
Oh dear! Noppert threw a bad dart for treble 17, and leaves 51.
But Joyce can't capitalise, and won't leave himself an easy 120 plus checkout if he does make it back to the board.
He doesn't return either. Noppert finds double tops and takes the opening leg of the second set.
Joyce 1-3 Noppert
Noppert leaves treble 18 and double 20 for a 94 finish.
But he missed tops, then 10s and left himself 10.
Joyce needed double 16 to go to checkout 66, and failed.
Double 5 sees Noppert win the first set. The Dutchman wins the opener.
Joyce 1-2 Noppert
First 180 of the night goes to Noppert puts him in a good position to win leg 3.
He then follows it with a 141 to leave tops. A brilliant six darts from Noppert.
However, he's forced to bust on his next go, with Joyce not on a finish.
He then returns to score the double tops he needs.
Joyce 1-1 Noppert
A test for Joyce.
He needs 123 to go - with Noppert putting the pressure on with 40 left to finish.
He leaves 83, not what he wanted.
Noppert takes it.
Joyce 1-0 Noppert
A nice 140 leaves Joyce with 117 to finish.
Noppert, on his throw, narrows his 141 down to 54.
Joyce is great at the combination finishes, but just misses the double tops for a ton plus checkout.
Noopert can't tginish, though.
And Joyce takes the opener.
Time to meet the players
And we're off and running in the evening session.
Ryan Joyce is the first to walk on.
Danny Noppert follows him.
This promises to be an intriguing contest.
Littler impact
Dolan relishing MVG clash
Up next for Brendan Dolan is Michael van Gerwen.
The Irishman famously knocked MVG out of last year's World Matchplay Championship, and he's looking forward to their next match up at Ally Pally.
"I'm hoping for more of the same. I don't think Michael is," he said.
"I'm going to get stuck in, do my best and hopefully put in a really good performance that I know I can do."
Evening session
Forget Beatlemania, it's all about Littlermania tonight.
Last year's runner-up is the third match of the evening.
Celebrity spot
Pop star Olly Murs got into the spirit of things at Ally Pally.
The Voice judge was spotted in the crowd cheering on the players.
Credit: Getty Dolan interview
Brendan Dolan will return after Christmas - thanks to defeating Lok-Yin Lee.
“My shoulder, my follow through was better, more speed to it,” he said after.
“It dented my confidence, so the win is relief. To play half-decent, that’s good as well.
“Definitely, it was brilliant finishing, but that’s not my best, I can score better.
“Who knows where I can go? I’d love it [the challenge of Van Gerwen next]. I want to play against the best. Biggest tournaments in the world.
“It’ll be tough, if I can do it last year [beating Gary Anderson], I can do it this year. It’s in the back of my head, on this stage, I can still do it. It’s a good amount of confidence. It’s about the throw, my shoulder, everything was good today, no loopy darts.”
