Rob Cross vs Luke Littler – World Darts Championship semi-finals: Live score and updates as ‘The Nuke’ aims to become the youngest ever finalist followed by Scott Williams vs Luke Humphries
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest scores and updates from the World Darts Championship semi-finals including Luke Littler vs Rob Cross and Scott Williams vs Luke Humphries.
Cross 1-1 Littler (1-2)
Rob Cross holds his throw to keep this set alive.
He eyed up 85 before nailing T19 and D14. He’s still in this one.
The standard of this first semi-final continues to be an absolute delight.
Cross 1-1 Littler (0-2)
Luke Littler piled in a maximum and moved down to 142.
In went his darts at T17 and tops, again, posed no challenge.
The youngster is on a roll at the moment!
Cross 1-1 Littler (0-1)
Luke Littler breaks at the start of the third set!
It was a scrappy one, admittedly, but Rob Cross has dropped his standard here.
Cross couldn’t take out 88, missing the last dart at D7 on the outside.
Then, Littler just about cleaned up 25, straying into the single 12 bed and finishing it off with a single five and D4.
Cross 1-1 Littler (2-3)
Outrageously good from Luke Littler, who takes the second set.
Rob Cross teed up the Big Fish to win the set but couldn’t find a second T20.
Littler was on 74 and with two darts, found T18 and D10. He told himself to calm down after walking off, but he’s responded quite brilliantly.
Cross 1-0 Littler (2-2)
Luke Littler breaks back!
A fourth 180 left him on 164, which he was unable to see off.
Rob Cross then hit two single 18s to leave a shot at the bull but missed.
Littler, on 24, found D12 with the first dart. Massive moment.
Cross 1-0 Littler (2-1)
Rob Cross is edging toward a two-set lead here.
He got a look at 128 and scored 92 to leave D18. Luke Littler couldn’t clean up 150, allowing Cross to step back in and target the outer ring.
After a wide third dart, Littler was invited back to the oche but his first dart bounced out around the bulls eye. Cross then split with single 10 and D4.
That’s the first break of throw of the match.
Cross 1-0 Littler (1-1)
Another hold of throw for Rob Cross. The standard here is outrageous.
Voltage fired in another maximum to leave 81, with Luke Littler miles back.
Cross found T19 and D12 to wrap up an impressive 11-dart leg.
Cross 1-0 Littler (0-1)
Both players pile in the 180s at the start of the set.
Rob Cross moved to a finish first on 167. He found the T19 and T20, but went marginally too high on bull, instead finding the green.
Luke Littler, on 12, missed D6 but made no mistake on the tricky D3.
Cross 1-0 Littler (3-2)
Rob Cross takes the opening set on his throw.
Despite a 180 from Luke Littler piling on the pressure, his opponent was cool and dispatched 32 with D16 at the first time of asking.
Off they go for the first break of this semi-final.
Cross 0-0 Littler (2-2)
The 2018 world champion fluffs his lines!
Rob Cross sprinted his way down to 54, with Luke Littler not on a finish.
But Cross couldn’t take the set after hitting the big 14 to leave tops and then going inside. He also went inside after moving down to D10.
Littler stepped up on 72, secured a dart at tops and duly pinned it.
Cross 0-0 Littler (2-1)
Rob Cross is looking superb up there.
He left 76 after nine darts, before finding T20 and then D8 on his second attempt.
This is a much sharper start from him in comparison to yesterday.
Both players are averaging around the 110 mark at the moment!
Cross 0-0 Littler (1-1)
It’s also a hold of throw from Luke Littler.
The 16-year-old again left 170. The first dart found the T20 bed – and the second!
His attempt at bull was wild, though, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
Littler stepped back up to take out 34 on D10.
Cross 0-0 Littler (1-0)
First blood to Rob Cross. He holds throw on tops despite missing two attempts.
Cross couldn’t take out 121, leaving Littler to step up on the Big Fish.
He hit the single 5, however.
Both players are scoring well early doors.
GAME ON!
Rob Cross will get this first semi-final underway.
‘There’s only one Luke Littler’
The thousands packed into the Ally Pally are showing their support for the rookie.
What an atmosphere this is. It’s a packed house.
Rob Cross follows
Here comes the 2018 world champion, to a smattering of boos.
It’s clear the crowd are on the side of his opponent tonight.
Luke Littler first up
The 16-year-old has high-fived members of the crowd, received the well wishes of his family and made his way onto the stage. He’s up for this one!
Here we go!
The walk-ons are about to begin!
On air!
The build-up to tonight’s action is now LIVE on Sky Sports Darts.
Settle in, folks. This evening is set to be spectacular.
Blast from the past!
What a throwback this is!
Luke Littler met Luke Humphries four years ago in a local pub competition.
Tomorrow, they may well fight it out for the biggest trophy in darts.
An incredible story on so many levels.
Coming in clutch!
This is fascinating and shows who has the advantage when sets go the distance.
The key statistics for each semi-finalist, including their win percentage, average and checkout percentage in last-leg deciders, can be compared via the post below.
I’m expecting both of tonight’s matches to go right down to the wire…
Who will have the coolest head and prevail? We’ll find out very shortly.
What can you buy with winnings?
Pretty much anything is the answer.
However, Luke Littler remains firmly grounded. Indeed, he has revealed the three humble purchases he would make should he take home the trophy tomorrow.
Find out what they are below!
Hint – remember he’s just 16 years old.
Hard at work
The PDC have shared some behind-the-scenes footage of each of our four semi-finalists gearing up backstage. I’m sure the maximums were tumbling!
Of course, the question is whether they can repeat that in the spotlight and in front of the watching millions. That’s where the nerves really start to creep in…
Luke Littler certainly looks calm and composed, though.
Wayne’s ready to go!
Someone’s clearly eager for the action to get underway…
Luke Humphries’ road to the semi-finals
Scott Williams’ road to the semi-finals
Rob Cross’ road to the semi-finals
Luke Littler’s road to the semi-finals
Littler 4-1 van Barneveld
Littler: I can go all the way
Luke Littler believes he has the ability to win the World Darts Championship and take home the £500,000 cash prize in one of sport’s most seismic surprises.
Speaking after his 5-1 demolition of Brendan Dolan, Littler told Sky Sports…
I know I’ve got the ability to go all the way. If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. Whatever Luke Littler turns up, then it is what it is. I know I’ve got a good chance and a good feeling I can go all the way. I’ve got the experience and even more experience now. I can go all the way.
Record breakers
Wow! That’s an impressive figure. Will it be topped tonight?
Who makes the final?
Four players are all that remain this year.
Only one of them, Rob Cross, has reached this stage before.
Two contenders, Luke Littler and Scott Williams, were unseeded ahead of the tournament while Luke Humphries enjoyed a truly stellar 2023.
Which of them will progress to tomorrow’s final?
Good evening!
Hello, all! Welcome along to Mail Sport’s live coverage of all the action from tonight’s World Darts Championship semi-finals at Alexandra Palace.
Luke Littler is just one step away from a date with destiny, with 2018 champion Rob Cross all that stands between the 16-year-old sensation and the final.
In the other showdown tonight, Luke Humphries – perhaps the tournament favourite now – will take on Scott Williams, who knocked out Michael van Gerwen yesterday.
Strap yourselves in! Two almighty tungsten tussles are coming your way shortly.
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Rob Cross vs Luke Littler – World Darts Championship semi-finals: Live score and updates as ‘The Nuke’ aims to become the youngest ever finalist followed by Scott Williams vs Luke Humphries