Luke Littler celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Krzysztof Ratajski. Photo: Reuters

Luke Littler celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Krzysztof Ratajski. Photo: Reuters

Luke Littler during his walk on before his quarter-final match against Krzysztof Ratajski

Luke Littler during his walk on before his quarter-final match against Krzysztof Ratajski

Spectators wear fancy dresses during the World Darts Championship quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace, London

Spectators wear fancy dresses during the World Darts Championship quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace, London

Gary Anderson reacts after winning his World Darts Championship quarter-final match against Justin Hood at the Alexandra Palace, London

Gary Anderson reacts after winning his World Darts Championship quarter-final match against Justin Hood at the Alexandra Palace, London

Luke Littler got the Alexandra Palace crowd back on side as he sauntered into the World Darts Championship semi-finals.

Littler was booed heavily during his fourth-round win over Rob Cross and antagonised the baying fans further when he crassly thanked them for paying for his substantial prize money.

The 18-year-old defending champion said he was “expecting the worst” for his quarter-final tie with Krzysztof Ratajski but had them in the palm of his hand after a virtuoso display.

There was a ‘Big Fish’ 170-checkout amid four ton-plus finishes, 10 180s and a 100.05 average as he claimed a masterful 5-0 victory in little over 30 minutes.

And the teenager deserves the adulation as he looks on an unstoppable course to becoming the first man to retain the World Championship since Gary Anderson 10 years ago.

Few can live with him and the scary thought for the rest of the field is that Littler has more gears to find ahead of his last-four date with Ryan Searle.

“The crowd were very good tonight. It’s the new year so there must be some new fans. They were great, I was good and we move on tomorrow,” he said on Sky Sports.

Gian Van Veen could well be the man who has the best chance of downing Littler after he trounced Luke Humphries 5-1.in the last of the quarter-finals,

“The biggest win of my career,” said the Dutch superstar after the win. He now faces his idol Gary Anderson in tomorrow’s semi-final.

In the early match-ups, Anderson took on Justin ‘Happy Feet’ Hood with the experienced ‘Flying Scotsman’ beating the English debutant 5-2 and booked his place in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

In the opening match-up, in-form Englishman Searle was clinical in beating Wales’ Jonny ‘The Ferret’ Clayton 5-2.

Take a look at all the action as it happened in our liveblog below.

World Darts Championships – Semi-finals (First to six sets)Gian van Veen v Gary Anderson 
Luke Littler v Ryan SearleThat is all for tonight folks! Luke Littler was dominant, Gian van Veen was mesmeric and now we have our final four.

Luke Littler takes on ‘Heavy Metal’ Ryan Searle, before Gian van Veen takes on two-time champion Gary Anderson. 

Join us tomorrow from 7.15pm. Goodnight!

Watch as van Veen seals an epic victory over the World number two

 Luke Humphries 1-5 Gian van Veen – The Dutch superstar comes of age to defeat Humphries to reach the last fourHumphries misses bull for a 161 to save his skin and Gian van Veen pins double 16 and he has defeated Luke Humphries again, but this time it is to reach the last four of the World Darts Championship. 

105, average, 11 180s and 55 pc. on his doubles. “The biggest win of my career”, and he is now the World number three and he has leapfrogged Michael van Gerwen to Dutch number one. 

What a performance, he faces his idol Gary Anderson in tomorrow’s semi-final.

 (1) Luke Humphries 1-2 Gian van Veen (3)* 

Another big double 8 to for van Veen to go one leg away from the last four.

 *(1) Luke Humphries 1-1 Gian van Veen (3)van Veen misses the bull again for his second 170 and Humphries cleans up double three. 

level in this must-win set for Humphries.

 (1) Luke Humphries 0-1 Gian van Veen (4)* 

van Veen continues his clinical display to hold throw on double 16.

He is averaging 104 and 56 pc. on his doubles. Impressive.

Luke Humphries 1-4 Gian van Veen – van Veen breaks Humphries to wrap up the fifth setvan Veen misses the bull for another 170, but Humphries can’t take out 95 and van Veen pins double 8 to win his fourth set on the bounce. 

Luke Humphries is shell-shocked, and van Veen is on fire!

  (1) Luke Humphries 2-2 Gian van Veen (3)*Brilliant 11-darter to force a set decider. This is huge and Humphries throws first  *(1) Luke Humphries 2-1 Gian van Veen (3) 

Humphries pins double 16 to hold throw.

 *(1) Luke Humphries 1-1 Gian van Veen (3) 

Humphries misses a dart for a break of throw and van Veen pins double 16 to hold.

  *(1) Luke Humphries 1-0 Gian van Veen (3) 

Humphries pins a brilliant tops to hold throw in the opening the fifth set.

  Luke Humphries 1-3 Gian van Veen – The Dutchman breaks back to lead 3-1 at Ally PallyDespite not completing the 141 for a nine-darter, van Veen pins double 18 to win the fourth set in brilliant fashion. 

Outstanding darts!

 *(1) Luke Humphries 1-2 Gian van Veen (2) 

van Veen misses three at double 16 for the set and Humphries goes T20-T20- D19 for a 158 to save his skin!

 *(1) Luke Humphries 0-2 Gian van Veen (1)

Humphries misses darts to hold and van Veen pins tops to break the Humphries throw and now he throws for the fourth set.

 (1) Luke Humphries 0-1 Gian van Veen (2) – OH MY WORD!van Veen nails the big fish 170 checkout and does not even react. He is in the zone. 

Magical!

 Luke Humphries 1-2 Gian van Veen – The Dutchman leads at Ally PallyHumphries throws it away as he messes up 120 and 80, allowing van Veen, who missed set darts, to take out double 10 to take the third set. (1) Luke Humphries 2-2 Gian van Veen (1)*Humphries breaks back on double 8 and now he throws for the set. *(1) Luke Humphries 1-2 Gian van Veen (1) 

Look how quick it can change as van Veen takes out 85 to break the Humphries throw and now van Veen is throwing for the set.

(1) Luke Humphries 1-1 Gian van Veen (1) *

That is huge from the Dutchman as Humphries gives him a chance to hold throw and he pins tops with the final dart. 

Chance gone from Humphries and that could be huge.