Luke Littler's defence of his World Darts Championship title continues, but his path forward is now lined with a fascinating subplot of pre-tournament prediction and post-match controversy. The 18-year-old progressed smoothly into the third round at Alexandra Palace, only to then reveal his next opponent had foreseen their meeting weeks ago.
The Cheeky Pre-Tournament Prediction
After securing a straight-sets victory over NHS worker David Davies, Luke Littler shared a surprising detail in his post-match interview. He disclosed that his upcoming opponent, veteran Austrian star Mensur Suljovic, had sent him a five-word text message after the tournament draw was made. "He messaged me and said: 'See you in round three'," Littler revealed. The teenager, known as 'The Nuke', added: "So Mensur, let's have a great game."
This revelation adds a layer of intrigue to their impending clash, suggesting Suljovic had both the confidence and foresight to predict his own progress to meet the defending champion. Littler watched Suljovic's second-round match earlier in the day, acknowledging that the 53-year-old "played well" in his victory.
A Victory Marred by 'Cheating' Accusations
Suljovic booked his place against Littler with a win over Joe Cullen, but the match was far from straightforward. The encounter was described as furious yet slow, with Cullen becoming visibly frustrated by Suljovic's deliberate playing style. 'The Rockstar' was seen sarcastically checking his watch and mouthing 'hurry up' during the match.
The tension did not end at the oche. After the match, a seething Joe Cullen took to social media to launch a scathing attack on Suljovic's conduct. "If that's darts, I don't want no part of it," Cullen stated. He continued, "I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way... word it how you will - it's CHEATING! That's not darts." Cullen also paused while walking off stage to deliver a death stare at the celebrating Suljovic.
The Austrian, however, appears to have shrugged off the accusations, immediately turning his attention to the challenge of facing the world champion.
Littler's Favourable Route to the Final
The evening of December 21, 2025, proved highly favourable for Luke Littler's title defence beyond his own win. Several potential obstacles in his quarter of the draw were unexpectedly removed. Most notably, world number three Gerwyn Price was knocked out by Wesley Plaisier.
Furthermore, Ryan Joyce, who pushed Littler to a final-set decider in last year's championship, was eliminated by Krzysztof Ratajski. World number eight Chris Dobey, another possible quarter-final opponent, was also defeated by Andrew Gilding. On paper, these results have significantly cleared a path for the teenage sensation as he aims for back-to-back world titles.
Littler described his own performance against Davies as solid if not spectacular, but his focus will now shift entirely to the veteran Suljovic. Their third-round match promises not just high-quality darts, but also a clash of styles and temperaments, all underpinned by that prophetic five-word text.
