Ian White has joked he will need to produce multiple nine-darters to beat Luke Littler.
The world number 57 will meet ‘The Nuke’ in the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship.
X / @PDCDartsWhite joked he will need to hit multiple nine-darters[/caption]
White set up their clash by beating European champion Ritchie Edhouse on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Littler saw off Ryan Meikle on Saturday night with a historic winning set, needing just 32 darts to take all three legs while averaging a record-breaking 140.91.
Asked how he can get the better of Littler, White laughed and said: “What did he do on Saturday? 11-10-11 [to win the set]?
“So I’ll have to come up with 9-9-9.
“Top man, isn’t he? He’s playing great darts. I’ll just have to give him the best game I can.”
Littler came agonisingly close to the second nine-darter of the event against Meikle and missed double 12 during the staggering final set.
White was full of praise for his next opponent, adding: “I’m playing well and I’m enjoying it. It’s just a case of getting on with it.
“Loving the challenge, that’s what I wanted, that was my goal – to get through after Christmas and play Luke.
“The lad’s talented isn’t he? We all know that. He’s put darts on the map again. Everyone wants to come the darts and that’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us.”
White continued: “I’ve got no pressure. I’ll just go out and play my darts and hopefully the nine-darter will come in! I’ll probably need about eight of them! I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait now.
“I’ll upset about 6,000 people out there if I win! Luke Littler has done everything for this sport at the moment. Look at this crowd, the way they are singing. Everyone wants to come to the darts. That’s where you need to be at Christmas.”
White has not been past the third round since reaching the quarter-finals back in 2014.
Meanwhile, Littler made it all the way to the final on his Ally Pally debut last year.
A fourth round meeting with either Ryan Joyce or Ryan Searle awaits the winner.
The schedule for the post-Christmas action will be released following the conclusion of the second round on Monday.
After three days off, the tournament resumes on Friday for the final week of matches.
Where to buy Luke Littler’s darts range
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Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95.
Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website.
Highlights include: