Darts prodigy Littler makes history with semi-final place

The 16-year-old darts prodigy Luke "the Nuke" Littler kept a remarkable sporting dream alive yesterday, imperiously defeating a player three times his age and becoming the youngest player, by some margin, to get to the semi-finals of the world championships.

- Mark Brown

Littler, from Warrington, beat the 50-year-old Northern Irishman Brendan "the History Maker" Dolan in his quarter-final match at Alexandra Palace in London.

It was a confident, devastating performance in front of 3,500 vocal darts fans. "Luke doesn't need to use the Force," said the Sky Sports commentator Dan Dawson. "He is the Force."

Afterwards, Littler exuded confidence. "Wow, I'm in a semi-final on my debut," he said. "I'm glad to get here... I've earned it." Asked if he could win the tournament outright, Littler said: "If I keep it up, I've got a good chance. I am dreaming. I'm two days away so I'm definitely thinking about lifting the title."