The likes of Gary Anderson, Michael Smith, Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall did not even make it beyond Christmas and, on paper at least, it is a huge chance for Littler to lift the Sid Waddell trophy.
Littler has dropped only two sets on his way to reaching the fourth round, beating Ryan Meikle 3-1 and then earning a 4-1 win over Ian White, but he has not yet shown his brilliant best for more than a set or two at a time.
The number of shocks already at Ally Pally will serve as a warning for the teenager tonight, as he looks to avoid becoming the latest star to be sent packing.
Here’s everything you need to know about Littler’s next match at Alexandra Palace…
What time is Luke Littler playing tonight?
Littler takes on Ryan Joyce in the fourth round on Monday December 30, 2024.
The match is the third and final one of the evening session tonight, after Stephen Bunting has gone up against Luke Woodhouse and Michael van Gerwen’s clash with Jeffrey de Graaf.
Littler and Joyce are therefore likely to take to the stage at around 9:30pm GMT.
The winner of that match will face either Nathan Aspinall or Ricardo Pietreczko in the quarter-finals.
How to watch the World Darts Championship
TV channel: The tournament will be covered live in full on Sky Sports. Both the afternoon and evening sessions will be shown on Sky Sports Darts, with many sessions also on Sky Sports Main Event.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to watch the action live online through the Sky Go app.