Defending champion Luke Littler has cruised into the third round of the World Darts Championship, but not before his next opponent sent him a confident prediction.
Suljovic's Confident Prediction
Luke 'The Nuke' Littler secured his spot in the last 32 with a 3-0 victory over David Davies on Sunday night, December 21, 2025. Despite the straight-sets win at Alexandra Palace, the Welsh challenger provided a stern test, missing five darts to claim the opening set.
Following his win, the world number one revealed that his next opponent, Mensur Suljovic, had contacted him immediately after the tournament draw was made. "No one knows this but when the draw came out, Mensur messaged me and he said: 'See you in round three!'" Littler told Sky Sports.
Littler, who averaged 97.15 and hit four 180s against Davies, acknowledged his fortune in the match. "I'm happy with it, but just throughout that game I was getting away with it," he admitted, noting Davies missed 16 darts at a double.
Controversy Surrounds Suljovic's Win
Suljovic earned his high-profile clash with a 3-1 second-round victory over Joe Cullen, a match marred by post-match accusations. Cullen, known as 'The Rockstar', was left fuming by the 53-year-old Austrian's notoriously slow pace of play, which he labelled as "cheating" in a social media post.
"If that's darts, I don't want no part of it!" Cullen wrote on X. "The old guard will say it's part of the game but word it how you will – it's CHEATING! That's not darts."
When questioned about his deliberate style, Suljovic was unapologetic, insisting his methods are solely for his own focus. "I never ever do this as a provocation," he stated. "I do it only for my game. I like my game – I never do it to be a villain."
Stage Set for Post-Christmas Showdown
The stage is now set for a fascinating third-round encounter after the Christmas break. Littler, who remains faultless in the tournament so far, will face the experienced and unorthodox Suljovic in what promises to be a clash of styles and temperament.
The defending champion acknowledged Suljovic's strong form, having watched his win over Cullen. With the mind games already beginning via private message, and public controversy swirling, their meeting at Ally Pally is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the last 32.
