Luke Littler, the 18-year-old PDC World Champion and World No. 2, sent New York darts fans into a frenzy with a thrilling 120 checkout, opting for three consecutive double 20s (tops) instead of a treble, to seal a 6-1 rout of Jules van Dongen in the first round of the 2025 US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden on June 27, per *Daily Record* and @OfficialPDC. The exhibition-style finish, described as “audacious” by *Sky Sports*, showcased Littler’s flair, averaging 98.76 and hitting four 180s, per *dartsnews.com*. The crowd erupted, with @livedarts on X noting, “The Nuke blitzed the Dutch Dragon,” as Littler advanced to face Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals.
The 120 checkout, a nod to his showmanship seen in a 2024 Premier League match against Peter Wright (treble-less 120 via three double 20s), per *givemesport.com*, highlighted Littler’s ability to captivate audiences. Despite recent setbacks, including a Premier League final loss to Luke Humphries and a World Cup exit, Littler’s performance reaffirmed his star power, with @RyanBallengee on X calling him “a showman.” Aspinall, who averaged 105 in a 6-2 win over Matt Campbell, poses a tough challenge, per *Sky Sports*. Meanwhile, defending champion Rob Cross and Stephen Bunting crashed out to Danny Lauby (6-0) and Jason Brandon (6-4), respectively, per *The Mirror US*.
Littler, who became the youngest PDC World Champion in January 2025 at 17, told *Sky Sports*, “The crowd was amazing, and I wanted to give them something special.” With a £500,000 World Championship prize and over £1 million in career earnings, per *Telegraph*, Littler’s New York display signals his intent to claim his first US Darts Masters title.
