Darts LIVE: Luke Littler vents as Michael van Gerwen fights back tears | Other | Sport

It’s day nine of the World Darts Championship with another action-packed schedule at the Alexandra Palace.

On Thursday, Michael van Gerwen appeared to be on the verge of tears after he was dealt a huge scare by Mitsuhiko Tatsunami in round one of the World Darts Championship. Van Gerwen, 36, dropped the first set to the Japanese 52-year-old and was 2-0 down in set two.

He roared back by claiming six of the next seven legs, but Tatsunami led set four 2-0 again and missed multiple set darts to force a decider. When Van Gerwen closed out the contest with double eight, he threw his darts onto the floor and looked on the verge of tears. The World No. 3 has endured a challenging 2025 on and off the oche, struggling in tournaments while also enduring a divorce with his wife Daphne Govers, the mother of his two children. 

Meanwhile, defending champion Luke Littler hinted he was disappointed with his placing in this year’s Sports Personality of the Year. Not only did he not win the main gong, he finished second behind England Lioness Michelle Agyemang in the Young Sports Personality of the Year. On social media, Littler wrote: «Thanks to everyone who voted for me tonight, appreciate it. And for Young SPOTY, wow fair enough.»

Keep up to date with all the main World Championship and darts news below…