Luke Littler, 17, bursts into tears and is consoled by his parents in mystery emotional ending after winning first match at World Darts Championship in sensational style

Luke Littler broke down in tears on the Alexandra Palace stage after beating Ryan Meikle 3-1 in his opening match at the World Championship.

Returning to the venue where he made his name 12 months ago, Littler recovered from a slow start to get over the line and book his place in the last 32.

He spoke to Sky Sports’ Abigail Davies afterwards, but was unable to complete his sentence before he became emotional.

‘That was incredible. I started off slow but…’ Littler said before the tears started to flow.

He then turned towards the crowd and applauded them after getting a hero’s reception throughout his match, before the 17-year-old left the stage.

He was seen hugging his parents after the match on an emotional night for the Littler family. 

Littler hugged his parents after the match on an emotional night for the Littler family

Littler’s tears came moments after he just missed out on a nine-darter in the final set of his match with Ryan Meikle

Littler was some way short of his brilliant best in the opening set as he needed a deciding leg to edge in front against his fellow Englishman.

Meikle came roaring back to deservedly level things up as it became clear Littler was not going to have things all his own way.

But the teenage sensation showed his class to take the third set, and then produced a remarkable fourth set to blow Meikle away.

In the second leg of the fourth set, Littler landed eight perfect darts, but his bid for a nine-darter just fell short as he shot at double 12 just went inside the wire.

He returned to mop up the leg, and then wrapped things up in style shortly afterwards.

Littler will now return after Christmas to play either Ian White or Ritchie Edhouse in the third round, having received a bye through the first round.

He went all the way to the final last year before losing to Luke Humphries in the final, and the pair remain on course to meet each other again in the semi-finals this time around.