Luke Littler, 16, reaches World Darts Championship quarters as youngest player

English teenager Luke Littler continued his dream run at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld of the Netherlands in the last 16 on December 30.

Littler, 16, averaged 105 and hit nine 180s to overpower the veteran Dutchman, 56, to become the youngest player to reach the World Championship quarterfinals.

Littler, who was born 21 days after van Barneveld won his last world title in 2007, told Sky Sports: "Unbelievable! My average has shown it, my double percentage has shown it. I don't know what to say!" 

"He (van Barneveld) said 'you can go all the way, I hope you can go all the way.' I said 'thank you' – he's a true gentleman and I respect Raymond," said Littler.

Littler, who has now won £50,000 ($63,700) in prize money, admitted in the build-up to Saturday's game that Van Barneveld was his idol growing up, posting a video of himself as a youngster on social media re-enacting the Dutchman's signature 'arms outstretched' celebration, the BBC reported.

"I am only three wins away now. I'm so young, only 16 and I have got nothing to fear. I have got no one to fear. My game can be better than anyone's on the day and I have shown it there against one of the greatest to have graced that stage," said Littler, who will face Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan in the quarterfinals on New Year's Day.

When asked if he believed he could lift the trophy, he said, "I fancy myself. I do fancy myself, but we have Brendan next. Let's just focus on Brendan."

PDC World Darts Championship quarterfinals

Chris Dobey vs Rob Cross

Luke Littler vs Brendan Dolan 

Michael van Gerwen vs Scott Williams 

Luke Humphries vs Dave Chisnall 

(With input from Reuters)