After progressing past Ryan Meikle in record-breaking fashion on Saturday night, the Warringtonian teenager booked a tie against either Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White in the third round. And it is Runcorn-born White who will be his opponent after he beat 29th seed and reigning European Champion Edhouse 3-1 at Alexandra Palace this afternoon to set up a "local derby" with the 17-year-old fourth seed. The exact date and time for the match is not yet known, with the full third-round schedule set to be confirmed in the coming days although third-round ties will be played between December 27-29.
White - a quarter-finalist at this tournament back in 2014 - rebounded from losing the first set to storm past an off-colour Edhouse in what was his first game of the championships after receiving a bye through the first round when his opponent Sandro Eric Sosing withdrew through illness. Littler won by the same scoreline on Saturday having not had things his own way against Meikle until a stunning final set that saw him average 141 - a record for the championships - and just miss out on a nine-dart leg. More to follow.
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