With Littler tipped to be 'the Messi of darts' Fermanagh's Dolan is next up

Brendan Dolan awaits in the quarter-finals as 16-year-old 'incredible kid' sets his sights on PDC World Darts Championship history and £500,000 prize

EYE OF THE STORM: Luke Littler speaks to the media after his match against Raymond van Barneveld (not pictured) on day thirteen of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, London. Pic: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.

On Saturday night, as the 16-year-old darts sensation Luke “the Nuke” Littler surged to an easy win over one of the game’s greatest ever players, a TV commentator remarked: “It’s almost as if the kebab shop is closing at 10 and he’s rushing to get there on time.” 

The Warrington teenager is known for celebrating wins with a takeaway and was landing repeated 180s as he swatted aside Raymond van Barneveld, who had won several world titles before Littler was even born. There was something paternal about how the older champion congratulated the rising star.