Luke Littler destroys former champ Van Barneveld as 16-year-old makes huge statement in hunt for World Darts glory

THE INCREDIBLE dream continues as giant-slayer Luke Littler moved a step closer to sporting immortality.

The 16-year-old Boy Wonder – the 125-1 tournament outsider – got the better of his childhood hero Raymond van Barneveld with an emphathic 4-1 victory last night at the PDC World Darts Championship.

Luke Littler is dreaming of World Darts Championship glory after reaching the quartersRex

PAThe 16-year-old got the better of Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld[/caption]

Littler lapped up the adoration of his fans inside the Alexandra PalaceRex

Not since David struck Goliath between the eyes with a tiny stone in a sling has a kid felled such a huge titan with small, sharp objects in his hands.

And this seismic last-16 result means the Kebab Kid remains on course to become the YOUNGEST darts world champion in history.

Six months after he sat his GCSEs, qualifier Littler is now £50,000 richer for winning four games on his debut appearance at Ally Pally.

To knock out the five-time world champion – a Dutchman, 40 YEARS OLDER, whose “iconic celebration” he tried to emulate when he was 18 months old in nappies – is the stuff of fantasy.

Every test that Littler has faced thus far, he has passed with flying colours, showing enormous composure, strength of character and fearlessness.

Every time he has been asked a question, he has provided the answer – and he is a genuine contender now for the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Littler’s fame and profile has risen so significantly over the past 11 days that his phone has blown up with thousands of new X/Twitter and Instagram followers.

High-profile Premier League footballers have been falling over themselves to meet the youngster away from the oche.

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Arsenal duo Aaron Ramsdale and Declan Rice gladly posed for photos before their home defeat to West Ham last Thursday.

Even forgotten Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek – who is big pals with Barney – gave the thumbs up for a snap when they met at a hotel the other day.

His trip to North London was also fortified by good luck messages from people like Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans and Gary Neville, who have represented his boyhood club Man Utd.

How many other ordinary teenagers would have such pulling power among millionaire footballers?

The desire to be seen with the lad of the moment emphasises how big darts has become in recent years – it is the second-most watched sport on Sky Sports after the Beautiful Game.

The audience figures last night would have been huge, probably bigger than some live Prem ties, for this extraordinary generational clash between a legend of the sport and the Next Big Thing.

Barney, who walks out to Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, has long been a fans favourite, but for once, he was not the darling of the 3,100-strong Ally Pally crowd – the Barney Army simply went quiet.

This year represents his 31st world championship appearance since in 1991 and he would have never before played someone with such limited experience.

PALittler kept his cool throughout the tense match[/caption]

Littler’s constant 180s thrilled the Ally Pally crowdRex

Barney has kids older than Littler and his epic Circus Tavern victory over Phil Taylor on January 1, 2007, took place 20 days before his opponent was even BORN.

Unlike his rivals who enjoy a sip of the stronger stuff before matches, Littler is fuelled by bottles of J2O and he usually stays on the stage in-between the ad breaks.

Even though the world youth champ was facing his idol for the first time on an equal footing, there were no signs of nerves as Littler nailed a 180 with his second trip to the oche.

Similar to his three previous games, he started like an express train, taking the opening set with a 103.88 average and an 82 finish.

The composure he shows for someone so young is incredible and he breezed through the second set with minimal fuss.

There is a showman in him, too, as he demonstrated with a magnificent 100 finish in set three that was achieved thanks to two double-tops.

When Barney missed two darts at double 16 to win the third set, Littler took advantage of that sloppiness to move 3-0 ahead.

The competitor in Barney, 56, refused to buckle and he nabbed the fourth set to ensure it would not be a whitewash.

GettyVan Barneveld gave his all but it was not enough[/caption]

GettyLittler is now dreaming of a place in the semis[/caption]

Yet it was not long before Littler, who averaged 105, wrapped up the biggest win of his young life with double 15.

He tapped his head to the crowd knowingly when he decided against going for the Big Fish when the win was on the line.

Next up in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day will be Northern Ireland Brendan Dolan, who surprised two-time world champion Gary Anderson 4-3 in a thriller.

The top half of the draw has really opened up and Littler, regardless of his age and raw talent, is really in the mix now for the £500,000 top prize.

Speaking after his win, Littler said: “Unbelievable. I don’t know what to say. I went 2-0 up, then 3-0 up. I said to my family, ‘three legs away, one set away, and then I am over the line’. I have done it.

“Barney said to me at the end, ‘you can go all the way. I hope you go all the way’. I said: ‘Thank you.’

“He is a true gentlemen. I respect Raymond very well.

“I’ve pictured myself winning it. I look at the draw and see Brendan next and then Chris Dobey against Rob Cross in the other quarter.

“I fancy myself. I do fancy myself. If I can get over the line and so does Chris, we can play each other – we have the same management. I will just focus on Brendan.

“It was unbelievable. The crowd were singing: ‘Walking in a Littler wonderland.’ They were both o our sides. I am so glad to get over the line. I will see my family and chill out.”