LUKE LITTLER came through an exacting test of his credentials as favourite for the World Darts Championship with a tense 4-3 victory over Ryan Joyce to book a place in the quarter-final.

Expectation on last year’s runner-up was ramped up following defending champion Luke Humphries’s surprise exit and the 17-year-old had to withstand intense pressure at Alexandra Palace.

His class showed when it was needed most as he averaged 111 in the final set, having hit 14 180s in the match.