Luke Littler has stormed into the World Darts Championship semi-finals after demolishing Krzysztof Ratajski in a ruthless 5-0 whitewash at Alexandra Palace.
The 18-year-old defending champion was absolutely electric, landing 10 maximum 180s and four ton-plus checkouts on his way to victory.
Ratajski, who had enjoyed a surprise run to the last eight, simply couldn't cope with Littler's brilliance despite posting a respectable 97 average himself.
The Polish player won just five legs as Littler raced through the match, even hitting a stunning 170 checkout along the way.
Luke Littler received a rousing reception from fans
|REUTERS
It's now two wins away from back-to-back world titles for the teenager.
The Ally Pally crowd were far friendlier to Littler this time around, a welcome change after he faced boos during his previous round clash with Rob Cross.
Fans greeted the Warrington star with rousing applause as he took to the stage, showing their support after his recent troubles with the audience.
It was a proper New Year's Eve turnaround for the teenager, who had clearly won over the packed venue with his sensational performance.
The atmosphere felt completely different from the hostility he'd experienced just days earlier, with supporters firmly behind him throughout the quarter-final demolition job.
Luke Littler was in cruise control against Krzysztof Ratajski in a ruthless 5-0 whitewash
|REUTERS
"The crowd were very good tonight - new year so must be some new fans," he joked after the match.
The teenager admitted he'd been pushing himself throughout the contest, saying: "I was just saying to myself 'try to be better'."
Despite his dominant display, Littler remained typically modest about his performance.
"Still throughout the match it didn't feel like anything," he said.
"The fans were great, I was good, we move onto tomorrow."
Littler will now face Ryan Searle in Friday night's semi-final, with the Englishman having earlier dispatched Wales' Jonny Clayton 5-2 in clinical fashion.
The teenager is clearly relishing the challenge ahead.
Luke Littler breezes into the semi-finals with a commanding 5-0 win against Krzysztof Ratajski ✅ pic.twitter.com/AAXNzOGaPk
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 1, 2026
"I am the next man in Ryan's way - hopefully we can have a good game tomorrow night," Littler said.
He also revealed he's been keeping a close eye on his rivals throughout the tournament.
"I have always been watching the darts throughout the tournament," he added.
With two more wins needed to retain his crown, Littler looks in ominous form heading into the business end of the competition.