Luke Littler loses World Darts Championship record as breakthrough star secures statement victory
CALLAN RYDZ became a record-breaker and overtook Luke Littler’s best mark despite two “absolutely shocking years”.
The North East star, 26, averaged 107.06 in his 3-0 battering of Croatian qualifier Romeo Grbavac.
This is the highest three-dart average by anyone in the first round of the PDC World Darts Championship, surpassing Littler’s debut tally of 106.12 12 months ago.
Rydz, who plays German Martin Schindler on Sunday night, hopes this surprising display is a catalyst for better days.
He said: “I’m quite a lazy person – I don’t like practising and I’ve missed some events because I didn’t turn up and didn’t want to play. Which is the wrong attitude to have.
“On stage, I’ve been absolutely shocking for the last two years, so if this is a turning point then happy days.
“Schindler is a good player, a great lad and I lost to a German in the second round last year so it would be nice to put that right.
“If you spend Christmas at home and you don’t come back down here, it’s a real kick in the backside.
“Was my 107 average a statement? We’ll see if I can back it up on Sunday.”
Luke Littler certainly backed up his astounding average last year, going on to reach the tournament’s final before cementing his name as one of darts biggest stars over the last 12 months.
His whirlwind year continued this week when he was named as the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
And he will be hoping to put the cherry on top of a sensational year by going one step further in the Worlds this festive period.
His pursuit of glory begins on Saturday when the teenager takes on world number 62 Ryan Meikle in his opening clash at Ally Pally.
It’ll be a tall task for Littler with Meikle ready to give his all in what he has described as a “cup final”.