Teenage darting sensation Luke Littler resumes his quest for World Championship glory this evening, facing a potentially tricky second-round tie against NHS worker and giant-killer David Davies at Alexandra Palace.
The Nuke returns after lengthy wait
Luke Littler last played on December 11, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Darius Labanauskas in his tournament opener. The 18-year-old defending champion has since endured a ten-day break, a scheduling quirk caused by the expanded first round which required all 64 initial matches to be completed before the second phase could begin.
That wait ends at approximately 9:10pm on Sunday evening, when 'The Nuke' walks onto the iconic Ally Pally stage. His opponent, world number 144 David Davies, is a 40-year-old who pulled off a shock 3-0 win against Mario Vandenbogaerde in the first round.
David Davies: The NHS worker eyeing a historic upset
Davies, who does not hold a full PDC Tour Card, arrives with confidence after a year that included impressive victories over established names like Joe Cullen and Thibaut Tricole in Players Championship events. Speaking ahead of the match, he acknowledged Littler's unique talent but vowed to fight for a seismic shock.
"He's a different breed," Davies said of Littler. "But I am determined to cause one of the biggest shocks the World Championship has ever seen." The Welshman faces a career crossroads, balancing his darting ambitions with his commitment to the NHS.
"I want to provide for people, that's why I joined the NHS," Davies explained. "It's a really difficult decision to make [whether to fully commit to darts], but then it is also self-belief on how far you can go in the professional game."
Sunday's full schedule at Ally Pally
The Littler-Davies clash is one of eight matches scheduled for Sunday. The afternoon session kicks off with Ryan Joyce versus Krzysztof Ratajski, followed by Joe Cullen against Mensur Suljovic. Luke Woodhouse meets Max Hopp before Rob Cross takes on Ian White.
The evening session begins with Martin Schindler facing Keane Barry, followed by 2021 champion Gerwyn Price against Wesley Plaisier. After the Littler match, Damon Heta will play Stefan Bellmont to conclude the day's action.
All eyes, however, will be on the teenage defending champion as he aims to blast past the dedicated NHS worker and keep his title defence on track.
