Darts news: Michael van Gerwen dumped out in big upset as Luke Littler storms into semis

Thanks for following today's coverage of the World Darts Championship.

Stay tuned for more as Ally Pally gears up for the semi-finals.

Tournament favourite Luke Humphries has advanced to the semi-final after beating Dave Chisnall 5-1.

Wayne Mardle believes the tournament is wide open after Michael van Gerwen's shock exit.

The Sky Sports pundit said: "It's a massive shock. Michael van Gerwen normally loses to someone who is a big hitter already, a World champion or a major champion.

"Scott Williams did a number on him. He was there to clean up when he had to clean up and he held it together so well.

"Eve Luke Littler and Rob Cross are giving it... WHAT!?

"What an opportunity for everyone left in the tournament."

Luke Humphries is currently set to reach the semi-final, leading Dave Chisnall 3-1 in their quarter final.

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is OUT at Ally Pally.

Van Gerwen was beaten in a thrilling quarter-final against Scott Williams.

The Dutchman had battled back to 2-1 after trailing 1-0.

But Williams completed a heroic recovery of his own.

The Brit eventually won 5-3 to book his place in the final four.

Scott Williams now leads 3-2 in a thriller at Ally Pally.

Michael van Gerwen had battled back to lead 2-1 earlier on.

It is now Williams' turn to fight back, setting up an exciting finale.

Michael van Gerwen has battled back to 2-1 against Scott Williams.

Williams led 1-0 at Alexandra Palace on Monday evening.

But in a thrilling encounter, Van Gerwen has fought back and now leads.

Stay tuned for the latest...

The evening session schedule, which began at 7pm, is as follows:

Michael van Gerwen vs Scott Williams

Luke Humphries vs Dave Chisnall

Luke Littler has raised a remarkable £34,000 thanks to his performances at the World Darts Championship.

Littler, 16, is into the semi-final at Ally Pally and fancies his chances of going all the way.

But the teenage sensation has also managed to raise an eye-watering sum for Prostate Cancer UK.

FIND OUT HOW HERE

Luke Littler is dreaming of becoming a 16-year-old darts world champion after beating Brendan Dolan 5-1 this afternoon.

"Wow. I'm in the semi-final on my debut. I'm glad to get here. I've earned it, and my performances have been well," Littler told Sky Sports after booking a semi-final against Rob Cross.

"I've thrown another 100-plus average, and my doubles are on 47 per cent, so it's gone well today as well."

He added: "If I keep it up, I've got a good chance [of winning the World Darts Championship]. Now I am dreaming! I'm two games away. I'm definitely thinking about lifting the title."

Luke Littler beats Brendan Dolan 5-1 to reach the World Darts Championship semi-finals. Incredible.

The sensational 16-year-old is two games away from making history at Alexandra Palace!

It will be former world champion Rob Cross for Littler for a place in the final. He won the title in his debut year, and there's a very real chance The Nuke could follow in his footsteps.

Wow.

Luke Littler leads Brendan Dolan 2-0 and is cruising towards the World Darts Championship semi-finals at Alexandra Palace.

The 16-year-old sensation is personifying confidence on the stage, and expressed his comfort in the deciding leg of the opening set.

As Littler attempted a 170 checkout to wrap up the first set, he left himself the bull to hit with his final dart.

And instead of maintaining his rhythm, the teenager turned around to ask the fans in attendance whether he should go for it with a smile.

His opponent, Dolan, didn't look too impressed by his antics before he missed the bull by some distance. That didn't stop him from hitting his double on his next visit, though...

That is one of the greatest darts comebacks you will ever witness! Take a bow Rob Cross!

The former world champion looked down and out as Dobey steamrolled to a 4-0 lead at Ally Pally.

But Cross somehow claws it back to book his spot in the World Championship semi-finals with a 5-4 win.

The Brit boasted a 57 per cent doubles success to Dobey's 33 per cent. He ended with an average of 100.70 compared to Dobey's 99.84.

Dobey had a match dart on the bull but grimaced as he rimmed the target, opening the door for Cross to seal the deal.

He will face the winner of Luke Littler vs Brendan Dolan for a place in the final.

Littler has been warned against cashing in on his sudden fame and letting the moment go to his head.

The teenager is a boy in demand right now, and Barry Hearn has even audaciously labelled Littler the game’s answer to Tiger Woods.

After beating his childhood idol Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday to reach the World Championship quarter-finals, talk has mounted that the Warrington starlet can go all the way.

In theory Littler could instantly become a millionaire through exhibitions, sponsorships and lucrative online deals, but Hearn has emphasised the need for balance and an urgent requirement not to get too invested too soon.

Wayne Mardle, a former player now recognised as one of the main voices of darts, says there's hardly ever been an instance where players haven't moaned.

“I don’t think there’s a player who’s not moaned,” he told the Daily Star this week.

“I moaned at Sid Waddell when I used to play. Sid used to say things I’d say, ‘Sid, I wasn’t happy with that’. He’d say 'OK kidda’ and that was it."

Nowadays, they’re a bit more aggressive in their ways. They take to social media, take to slagging off through the press. I can honestly say now, that I literally couldn’t care less. I used to care.

"I see it like this: ‘If I think you’re going to win and you’re going to lose, you may take exception to that.

"Well, I can’t help that you’re offended, sorry about that’."

It's not only being front and centre of the cameras that is now different for young Luke Littler.

The teenager is the talk of British sport, and was last week stopped by Arsenal and England star Declan Rice who was determined to get a photo.

Littler is surging to the latter stages of the World Championship against all odds, and raking in the dosh at the same time.

The schoolboy will already bank £50,000 from his Ally Pally exploits, and he could yet double this in today's quarter finals.

On New Year's Eve Littler was invited to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium as a guest of playmaker James Maddison, to sit in his box and watch the match. Rubbing shoulders with sporting celebs is becoming commonplace for Littler, who could still yet shock the sporting world and clinch the title.

Gary Anderson labelled his performance “embarrassing” during his 4-2 defeat to Brendan Dolan in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship.

The ‘Flying Scotsman’ slumped to an early 2-0 deficit which he was able to overturn, but Dolan won the final two sets to set up a quarter-final with Luke Littler.

The 53-year-old allowed his opponent to race into a 2-0 lead and after clawing it back, struggled to get over the line in the decider.

“Listen, I was rotten. I was lucky to get a few darts to push it all the way, but it was my own fault,” Anderson admitted afterwards.

“I was lucky to stay in the game. The first two sets my head and arm were not working together. I was miles off, they were sliding out my hand."

The teenage sensation Luke Littler has acknowledged that all has not gone as expected at the World Darts Championship.

In fact, the youngster has gone as far as to say he has broken the rules at Alexandra Palace.

Littler brushed aside five-time champion Van Barneveld 4-1 on Saturday. He continues to show maturity and quality on the oche beyond his years.

"I have certainly broken the rules and records already but I know if my game is there I can beat even more records," Littler said after his recent victory.

"I think I am daring to dream now. I am only three wins away."

Now, if Littler beats Dolan then he will face either Chris Dobey or former champion Rob Cross in the semi-final, before Michael van Gerwen could be waiting in the final

What a start to the new year we have in store.

The iconic Alexandra Palace is once again set to be buzzing today, as the quarter final hopefuls do battle for a place in the final four.

All eyes on Luke Littler following his impressive, and somewhat unexpected demolition of Raymond van Barneveld.