Luke Littler discovers Masters opponent as he eyes first title since Ally Pally triumph | Other | Sport

January 30, 2025 4,196

Luke Littler will face Andy Baetens in the World Masters as he seeks to land his first title since becoming world champion. The 18-year-old’s Alexandra Palace triumph and his rise to world No. 2 meant he qualified for the tournament for the first time.

Littler is one of the world’s top 24 players in the PDC’s Order of Merit and therefore qualifies automatically. The 32-player competition takes place in Milton Keynes across four days, starting on Thursday. It is one of the first major televised events of the calendar year.

The winner of Littler’s clash with Belgian Baetens will face either James Wade or Mike De Decker in the second round. He is in the same half of the draw as Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey.

Littler has not won either of his tournaments since defeating Van Gerwen in the final at Ally Pally earlier this month. An excellent performance by Gerwyn Price saw the teenage sensation dumped out of the Bahrain Masters.

He then defeated Van Gerwen again at the Dutch Masters but was beaten by Stephen Bunting in the semi-final. Rob Cross went on to win the tournament, with Bunting triumphing in Bahrain the week prior.

Bunting has enjoyed an excellent 2025 so far and will attempt to defend his World Masters crown this week. The 39-year-old, spurred on by very strong support, believes he is playing the best darts of his career.

“If you’d have said to me at the start of the tournament that I’d be in the final I’d have taken it,” Bunting said after being beaten by Cross in the Netherlands. “Credit to Rob, I’m playing the best darts of my life and I’m disappointed not to win.”

Bunting will face Willie Borland in the first round at the World Masters. World No. 1 Luke Humphries will be hoping to return to form at the tournament but he faces a tricky test in the unseeded Joe Cullen.

Van Gerwen will play Bradley Brooks.

World Masters draw in full

Luke Humphries (1) v Joe Cullen

Josh Rock (16) v Jermaine Wattimena

Damon Heta (8) v Ross Smith

Gerwyn Price (9) v Florian Hempel

Rob Cross (14) v William O’Connor

Danny Noppert (13) v Michael Smith

Stephen Bunting (5) v Willie Borland

Peter Wright (12) v Kevin Doets

Luke Littler (2) v Andy Baetens

James Wade (15) v Mike De Decker