Luke Littler Battles Boos in Tense Win at PDC World Championship
Luke Littler defeated Rob Cross 4-2 at the PDC World Championship held at Alexandra Palace on 29 December 2025. The 18-year-old faced heavy boos from a hostile crowd, despite previously being cheered as a 16-year-old champion. Littler averaged a strong 107 throughout the match, including a 125 average in the third set, while Cross registered crucial finishes of 109 and 126.
A decisive 10-dart leg in the sixth set, following a high-scoring start of 140-180-141, sealed Littler’s victory by finishing tops. Littler remains three matches away from retaining his world title and is regarded as the favourite to win.
Post-match, Littler addressed the crowd, expressing that he was not bothered by the boos and noted that fans pay for tickets and prize money. The crowd was described as a mix of darts fans and cultural tourists, including many from Germany, where Littler has experienced crowd tensions in the past.
Potential semi-final opponents for Littler include Ryan Searle or Jonny Clayton. Josh Rock completed the last-16 lineup by beating Callan Rydz.
