Rob Cross vs Luke Littler – World Darts Championship semi-finals: Live score and updates as ‘The Nuke’ destroys 2018 champion 6-2 at Ally Pally

These are jaw-dropping numbers.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THE 16-YEAR-OLD HAS DONE IT!

This is absolutely incredible. Luke Littler has beaten Rob Cross 6-2.

He started magnificently and only got better as the showdown wore on. That’s the sign of a real winner and certainly a world champion in the making.

Drink it in, Luke. The darting world is at his feet.

Luke Littler needs just one leg. He’ll be in the final if he holds throw.

Both men went toe to toe, with Littler scoring 137 and Cross hitting back with 174.

Littler then left himself on 42 but Cross made no mistake with a 36 checkout.

Luke Littler is actually RAISING his game here!

He left 102 for the hold but couldn’t move a leg away on D16.

Rob Cross missed out on a 141 checkout, with Littler then finding D8.

Back comes Rob Cross. Full credit to him – he’s fighting.

Cross left himself on 36 and Luke Littler missed a 97 checkout.

That allowed Cross to return and pin D18.

MY WORD! LUKE LITTLER WITH A SUPERB 132!

Even Rob Cross couldn’t help but acknowledge that one with a nod of respect.

A big 133 left the checkout and Littler hit two bulls and D16 to raise the roof.

He’s steaming toward the final.

Luke Littler is a set away from the world final and the guaranteed £200,000 that comes with it. Imagine having that much money as a 16-year-old!

No wonder he looks so delighted…

These are just some of the lucky people watching this classic inside Ally Pally.

Are they about to see Luke Littler seal his spot in the final?

It’s an incredible atmosphere inside the famous old venue.

Luke Littler is ONE SET away from the World Championship final!

Yet again, Rob Cross needed a 170 to save the set but couldn’t take it out.

That left Littler free to step up, compose himself and nail D16.

He’s so close to the finish line now. Incredible!

Both players traded 140s before Littler piled in another.

A 134 then left 87 for the break but he missed two darts at D18.

Rob Cross needed the Big Fish to hit back but couldn’t take it.

Littler returned with his trusty D10.

There’s real aggression from both players up there. It’s great to watch.

Luke Littler found yet another 180 to continue his momentum.

He was miles ahead and set up 56 before finishing it off on D10.

A steady opener for Rob Cross. He needed that.

He powered in a 171 to leave 94 for a hold.

Luke Littler set up a 132 but couldn’t finish it off on the bull after covering the target.

Cross returned to hit D18 and hold his throw.

Luke Littler takes the sixth set and has a two-set cushion once again!

Rob Cross couldn’t take out 107 and Littler faltered on 82 after missing tops.

50 was then Cross’ target but he missed D16 and D8 again.

Littler pinned D10 to take another step closer to a sensational final.

We may be 50 weeks or so away from the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony but the bookies already have odds on Luke Littler to win the award.

Sky Bet currently have Littler as a 4/1 favourite in the market, ahead of the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

Very good scoring from Luke Littler yet again in this leg.

He moved down to 130 after just nine darts but couldn’t quite finish on D8.

Littler then returned and this time, made no mistake.

The youngster missed two darts at tops for a break!

Rob Cross hit a 180 and followed it up with a 140, handing him the advantage.

The former left 136 for a hold but Luke Littler found a maximum to leave 52.

Littler squandered his chance, though, with his attempts at D20 off target.

Luke Littler has started this set very well indeed.

He found a 180 before a 139 left him on tops after 12 darts.

His 13th found the target to hand him the leg and the hold.

Luke Littler’s family, friends and partner are at Ally Pally for this one.

They must be on a rollercoaster of emotions right now!

Penny for their thoughts.

Rob Cross finds tops to check out 60 and reduce the deficit to just one set!

It was a crucial set but Cross, who had the darts, fired in a 135 to leave 116.

Luke Littler put the pressure on with a brave 133 but couldn’t take out 74.

Cross returned and picked out D20. We’ve got a real game on our hands!

And Milburn, a darts-playing beauty consultant, gave her boyfriend a warm hug before he took to the stage this evening.

Crucial, albeit shaky, hold for Luke Littler.

Rob Cross misstepped on 62 but squandered attempts on both 16 and 8.

Littler found D8 to take this set the distance.

This is much better from Rob Cross.

Both players are playing with real fluidity and it’s showing in their scoring.

Cross left 144 but couldn’t finish it off, handing Luke Littler a brief glimpse.

But the rookie was unable to check out 117, with Cross pinning D4 for the hold.

That could be a real rot-stopper for Rob Cross, who breaks throw with a huge 138.

Luke Littler teed up 16 after a 140, 180 and 65 in quick succession, but faltered on the double, missing two at 8 on the outer ring.

Cross capitalised in style, smashing in a 138 checkout. He loved that one.

The perfect start to the set for Luke Littler, who breaks Rob Cross’ throw.

He hit the ground running with a 180, before hitting 58 and another maximum.

Littler then cleaned up the remainder on D8 to deal a real blow to his opponent.

This advantage is growing and growing.

Luke Littler is carrying on his World Championship fairytale – and fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, are raving about his performance once again.

Social media has gone absolutely mad for Luke Littler.

Some excellent fancy dress on show at Ally Pally…

That 149 from Luke Littler was stunning.

Have a watch of it below.

Absolute scenes at Ally Pally.

Daylight in this semi-final for Luke Littler! He’s taken the fourth set!

He’s now halfway to sealing his place in the World Championship final.

Rob Cross was on a nine darter but missed the T19.

Littler came back for 41 and made no mistake. Nerves of steel, there.

Rob Cross left 50 and took the single 18, D16 route.

Luke Littler couldn’t get a look in, and Cross tidied up.

This set is going the distance!

MY WORD! LUKE LITTLER, TAKE A BOW!

He has nailed a 149 to hold his throw.

Rob Cross fired in his fifth maximum to move in front in the leg and left 126. He hit the 19 and T19 to set up the bull, but couldn’t nail the target.

Rob Cross needed that hold to steady the ship.

He declined a dart at the bull on 129 and instead hit single 18 to leave 32.

Luke Littler couldn’t take advantage on 164 and Cross cleaned up on D8.

Littler was poised behind him to step back in.

Luke Littler is not messing about!

We moved straight into the fourth set, with the youngster moving down to 50.

He hit single 10 and dispatched tops perfectly. Rob Cross is in a little trouble.

The rookie takes the third set and leads this showdown!

Luke Littler missed the chance to close it out on 68 after missing tops twice.

Rob Cross, looking to respond, hit the single 20 and single 16 to tee up D16.

His dart arrowed outside, however, and Littler hit D10, his favourite, to move in front.

Rob Cross holds his throw to keep this set alive.

He eyed up 85 before nailing T19 and D14. He’s still in this one.

The standard of this first semi-final continues to be an absolute delight.

Luke Littler piled in a maximum and moved down to 142.

In went his darts at T17 and tops, again, posed no challenge.

The youngster is on a roll at the moment!

Luke Littler breaks at the start of the third set!

It was a scrappy one, admittedly, but Rob Cross has dropped his standard here.

Cross couldn’t take out 88, missing the last dart at D7 on the outside.

Then, Littler just about cleaned up 25, straying into the single 12 bed and finishing it off with a single five and D4.

Outrageously good from Luke Littler, who takes the second set.

Rob Cross teed up the Big Fish to win the set but couldn’t find a second T20.

Littler was on 74 and with two darts, found T18 and D10. He told himself to calm down after walking off, but he’s responded quite brilliantly.

Luke Littler breaks back!

A fourth 180 left him on 164, which he was unable to see off.

Rob Cross then hit two single 18s to leave a shot at the bull but missed.

Littler, on 24, found D12 with the first dart. Massive moment.

Rob Cross is edging toward a two-set lead here.

He got a look at 128 and scored 92 to leave D18. Luke Littler couldn’t clean up 150, allowing Cross to step back in and target the outer ring.

After a wide third dart, Littler was invited back to the oche but his first dart bounced out around the bulls eye. Cross then split with single 10 and D4.

That’s the first break of throw of the match.

Another hold of throw for Rob Cross. The standard here is outrageous.

Voltage fired in another maximum to leave 81, with Luke Littler miles back.

Cross found T19 and D12 to wrap up an impressive 11-dart leg.

Both players pile in the 180s at the start of the set.

Rob Cross moved to a finish first on 167. He found the T19 and T20, but went marginally too high on bull, instead finding the green.

Luke Littler, on 12, missed D6 but made no mistake on the tricky D3.

Rob Cross takes the opening set on his throw.

Despite a 180 from Luke Littler piling on the pressure, his opponent was cool and dispatched 32 with D16 at the first time of asking.

Off they go for the first break of this semi-final.

The 2018 world champion fluffs his lines!

Rob Cross sprinted his way down to 54, with Luke Littler not on a finish.

But Cross couldn’t take the set after hitting the big 14 to leave tops and then going inside. He also went inside after moving down to D10.

Littler stepped up on 72, secured a dart at tops and duly pinned it.

Rob Cross is looking superb up there.

He left 76 after nine darts, before finding T20 and then D8 on his second attempt.

This is a much sharper start from him in comparison to yesterday.

Both players are averaging around the 110 mark at the moment!

It’s also a hold of throw from Luke Littler.

The 16-year-old again left 170. The first dart found the T20 bed – and the second!

His attempt at bull was wild, though, much to the disappointment of the crowd.

Littler stepped back up to take out 34 on D10.

First blood to Rob Cross. He holds throw on tops despite missing two attempts.

Cross couldn’t take out 121, leaving Littler to step up on the Big Fish.

He hit the single 5, however.

Both players are scoring well early doors.

Rob Cross will get this first semi-final underway.

The thousands packed into the Ally Pally are showing their support for the rookie.

What an atmosphere this is. It’s a packed house.

Here comes the 2018 world champion, to a smattering of boos.

It’s clear the crowd are on the side of his opponent tonight.

The 16-year-old has high-fived members of the crowd, received the well wishes of his family and made his way onto the stage. He’s up for this one!

The walk-ons are about to begin!

The build-up to tonight’s action is now LIVE on Sky Sports Darts.

Settle in, folks. This evening is set to be spectacular.

What a throwback this is!

Luke Littler met Luke Humphries four years ago in a local pub competition.

Tomorrow, they may well fight it out for the biggest trophy in darts.

An incredible story on so many levels.

This is fascinating and shows who has the advantage when sets go the distance.

The key statistics for each semi-finalist, including their win percentage, average and checkout percentage in last-leg deciders, can be compared via the post below.

I’m expecting both of tonight’s matches to go right down to the wire…

Who will have the coolest head and prevail? We’ll find out very shortly.

Pretty much anything is the answer.

However, Luke Littler remains firmly grounded. Indeed, he has revealed the three humble purchases he would make should he take home the trophy tomorrow.

Find out what they are below!

Hint – remember he’s just 16 years old.

The PDC have shared some behind-the-scenes footage of each of our four semi-finalists gearing up backstage. I’m sure the maximums were tumbling!

Of course, the question is whether they can repeat that in the spotlight and in front of the watching millions. That’s where the nerves really start to creep in…

Luke Littler certainly looks calm and composed, though.

Someone’s clearly eager for the action to get underway…

Littler 4-1 van Barneveld

Luke Littler believes he has the ability to win the World Darts Championship and take home the £500,000 cash prize in one of sport’s most seismic surprises.

Speaking after his 5-1 demolition of Brendan Dolan, Littler told Sky Sports…

I know I’ve got the ability to go all the way. If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. Whatever Luke Littler turns up, then it is what it is. I know I’ve got a good chance and a good feeling I can go all the way. I’ve got the experience and even more experience now. I can go all the way.

Wow! That’s an impressive figure. Will it be topped tonight?

Four players are all that remain this year.

Only one of them, Rob Cross, has reached this stage before.

Two contenders, Luke Littler and Scott Williams, were unseeded ahead of the tournament while Luke Humphries enjoyed a truly stellar 2023.

Which of them will progress to tomorrow’s final?

Hello, all! Welcome along to Mail Sport’s live coverage of all the action from tonight’s World Darts Championship semi-finals at Alexandra Palace.

Luke Littler is just one step away from a date with destiny, with 2018 champion Rob Cross all that stands between the 16-year-old sensation and the final.

In the other showdown tonight, Luke Humphries – perhaps the tournament favourite now – will take on Scott Williams, who knocked out Michael van Gerwen yesterday.

Strap yourselves in! Two almighty tungsten tussles are coming your way shortly.