World Darts Championship LIVE: Luke Littler gets through tricky test against Ryan Meikle to reach third round

Connor Schutt fights from two legs down to clinch the first set 3-2 with a double 6 finish! What a set of darts from the Englishman.

Wow. This match has swung but Ryan Meikle is taking in the applause of the crowd with another maximum! Littler is still outscoring him though in this set.

From 188, Littler scores 136 and leaves 52 to win the match. Meikle leaves 130 but it won’t matter.

Littler hits 12, then takes out double tops! His set average for that one was 141. That is insane. Luke Littler wasn’t at his best but sweeps into the third round.

This is Littler at his best. He’s shaken off the cobwebs and lands another 180 but Meikle responds in kind. Littler doesn’t let up and takes out another maximum to set up another nine-dart leg.

He needs 141 and hits treble 20, then treble 19 but slides under the double 12!

Meikle misses out on 157 and Littler breaks throw with double 6! That’s a 10-dart leg.

Luke Littler has won two sets against the darts and now needs to hold this one. He begins with a maximum 180! and then follows it up with a second one!

Littler is on for a nine-darter. Needing 141 he misses the treble 20 but recovers well to leave 60 for the checkout. 20, double tops and another leg goes to Littler.

He’s two away from winning the match.

Littler now has the throw to win the set. He starts off well with two scores in the high 90s but Meikle is right there with him. A big 145 leaves 167 for Littler on the next trip.

He has another six darts at this and tries to lay up but only manages 45. Meikle can’t leave a finish and little takes out 82 to leave a shot at double tops for the set.

He checks out with two darts again! The set is his.

The momentum is all with Meikle and he can feel it. Littler is fighting against the tide and needs to swing things back his own way.

A 140 from Littler puts him back in control against the throw and he leaves himself with a finish of 167. Littler lays up with a 127 and leaves double tops.

He’s got three darts to finish… he slips into the 20 with the first one, then lands double 10 with the second!

Another maximum for Littler may show that he’s clicking into gear. He leaves 167 with Meikle not on a finish. Littler fails to hit a treble and leaves 110 with Meikle on 152.

Littler only hits 54 and has 56 left. Meikle needs to be perfect, he hits the first two treble 20s then misses double 16. Littler fails to hit 56!

Meikle lands his finish and hits back. Big response.

This next set could be a big one. If Littler wins it then the match should go his way. Both players have been broken though and the pressure has been ramped up.

Meikle has the throw in the third set. Their averages are both in the 93s with Meikle playing the better darts.

Littler hits a 180, his fifth maximum, to take control of the first leg against the darts. He’s first to a finish at 147 and will have six darts at it.

He almost takes it out in three but misses the double 15. Meikle puts some pressure on but Littler takes one dart to hit the double and break throw.