Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle – World Darts Championship: Live score and set-by-set updates as 17-year-old sensation LOSES the second set to hairdresser who fancies an Ally Pally upset

All level at the break…

Meikle is in a strong position to level the tie, and has a double 12 to take it – only to miss it twice. This is eerily reminiscent of the first set, when he was similarly off beat to put himself behind Littler.

Littler needs 161 to put the leg to bed, but can’t provide the magic bullet. After four attempts for Meikle, however, the fifth is finally good – he finds double 12, and takes the set.

But Littler can get on the board in the third leg, bringing up his average, even if he lags slightly behind his opponent.

Littler takes the leg with a treble 18, before missing a dart, and holds with a final double 10.

Littler doesn’t look as settled as he can, as Meikle takes an opening century, looking more and more confident.

Meikle has the opportunity to build on his lead, and gets it – this is quite the performance from the Barber. Time for Littler to show what he’s made of.

Littler on throw gets 58 to bring him to 306, but Meikle is off to the races in the second set.

Looking for the bullseye, Littler can’t find it, leaving his opponent with room to pull away.

Needing 40, he takes it at pace, averaging 97 now, and he has the early break.

That’s six maximums in the opening set, as both players do their worst in the first decider. Metaphorically, of course.

Meikle has a wobble, missing the necessary double 12 to take the first set, and Littler goes looking for the break – he needs a century check out, and he gets it, taking the opener. Meikle has pushed him, however.

Meikle is averaging a 90, much stronger than his average versus Sherrock, but a cool and composed 180 from Littler on throw demonstrates why the teenager demands your A-game.

At 140, Littler’s mask slips, and he misses the opportunity to pull well ahead. Double 10, then double five, and Meikle has an opportunity here!

… but he can’t convert it, and Littler makes him pay, setting up a deciding leg. Evenly poised here.

Meikle can grab his first 180 of the game next, and slide his way to 141, but Littler is on his tail, giving him no let-up.

But Meikle is more confident looking than his first leg, and he pulls off another hold.

But Littler on throw is back in the game quickly with a lightning quick maximum!

A confident start from Littler unnerves Meikle somewhat, mired on 224 as Littler sprints down to 52.

With a quick double top, Littler has his statement of intent. No messing here.

‘There’s only one Luke Littler!’ rings round the Palace as the players warm up with their last few throws.

Meikle on throw starts off with two trebles, looking as confident as he can, while Littler is a little slower to shrug off the rust of bypassing the first round.

Getting to 133 with some room ahead of Littler’s 290, he’s in a good position to take the opening leg, but he takes some time before he finds the required double 10.

Littler can catch up only somewhat, before Meikle holds throw.

Predictably, the crowd goes wild, singing his now-familiar walk-out song.

Just moments to go until we’re underway here.

Meanwhile, look who’s snuck in? One Matty Cash, fresh from beating beleagured champions Manchester City at Villa Park.

He’s under the baseball cap, I promise.

… and he’s greeted with a round of boos. Ah, the curse of playing the fan favourite.

One upside, however, is the ability to play without pressure. Yes, he didn’t move past first-round opponent Fallon Sherrock with ease, but there’s surely no downside to giving it your all against a talent like Littler.

The teenager has a little video interview as the moments tick down to his arrival. Has it really only been a year?

I was saying to my mum and my dad, I only remember bits and pieces last year.

This year’s been brilliant, and i’ve been buzzing all week to be on stage.

I’ve grown over the last 12 months, so hopefully I can win tonight. It’s all about getting past that first game.

And here’s his first dispatch…

Good evening from one of the only sober souls inside of Alexandra Palace. A five-time world champion in Raymond van Barneveld may have just lost, but he wasn’t why a ticket to Ally Pally represented the hottest in town on this Saturday night.

We’re all here for Luke Littler, the Prince of the Palace, to watch him begin his pursuit of the World Championship crown. His opponent Ryan Meikle can be a slow player, but he’ll know everyone is supporting Littler anyhow so won’t mind if he frustrates a few fans in this match, I’m sure.

So, who’s the lucky man taking on the heavy favourite tonight?

‘The Barber’ is no empty nickname – Meikle is one of the only stars who still has a day job. Knocking the Nuke of his perch would be one way of giving it up, one supposes.

As we countdown to tonight’s match, why not have a look through Mail Sport’s profile on the underdog, below.

Fans at the Ally Pally have just been treated to the dismantling of five-time world champion and darts legend Raymond van Barneveld by Nick Kenny.

It was touch and go in the final leg after the winner missed eight match darts, but Kenny got there in the end, and Van Barneveld is history.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Luke Littler’s first match at this year’s World Championships – one year on from his meteoric debut.

The newly minted Young Sports Personality of the Year is back at the Alexandra Palace with a vengeance after a spectacular year, and will face Ryan Meikle in his second-round match.

Last year, he was a finallist – this year, the tournament favourite. And that journey begins tonight…