PDC World Darts Championship 2025: Veteran Ian White Relishing Clash with Luke Littler

Veteran darts star Ian White pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the second round at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, defeating reigning European Champion Ritchie Edhouse in a stunning upset.

White’s path to the second round came under unusual circumstances, as his first-round opponent, Sandro-Eric Sosing, was rushed to hospital moments before their match was scheduled to take place. 

This unexpected bye gave the “Dabbing Diamond” a clear route into the next stage of the tournament, where he seized his opportunity against Edhouse.

Now, the 53-year-old faces an even greater challenge: a showdown with 17-year-old sensation Luke “The Nuke” Littler, the tournament’s outright favourite. Despite the daunting task, White is embracing the moment and reflected on the stark contrasts between his own teenage years and those of his opponent.

Life as a Teenager 

“He hasn't got poll tax; he hasn't got bills to pay. Wait until he's got a kid,” White quipped with a grin.

“I don't think I was playing darts. I wasn’t. I had heavy metal on. I had my hair down to here [pointing towards his knees]; I wore ripped jeans. I was off to Donington to watch Iron Maiden. I was out on my motorbikes, but no, I wasn’t even playing darts,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

Career Defining Moment in the Making

Looking ahead to the third-round clash, White admitted that a victory over Littler could become the defining moment of his career.

“If I go on and win it, yeah. I wouldn't say it was the biggest game yet because you look at my time playing [Michael] van Gerwen in Holland with their people behind him all booing me, throwing at double 10. I was cacking it,” he joked, referencing his iconic win over van Gerwen at the Dutch Darts Masters in 2019.

“That was an incredible moment, but you’ll remember these moments when you finish darts.”

Pantomime Villain or Cult Hero? 

Despite knowing the Ally Pally crowd will likely back Littler, White is prepared to embrace his role as the pantomime villain while cherishing the respect of his peers in the players’ lounge.

“If I went on to win now, I think everyone out there [Ally Pally’s fans] would be booing me, but every darts player would be shaking my hand,” he said with a laugh.

As White gears up for his clash with Littler, the veteran will draw on his wealth of experience and relish the chance to create one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.