Apprentice v master - Littler prepares for Van Barneveld

With an age gap of 40 years between them, Luke Littler and Raymond van Barneveld are set for one of the most intriguing contests of the PDC World Championship on Saturday.

Littler, 16, has gained attention by reaching the last 16 on his tournament debut having become the youngest player to ever win a match at the World Championship.

During his first win, fans in the Alexandra Palace crowd greeted him with a chant of "you're going to school in the morning". And after each victory he has celebrated with his favourite fast food of either a kebab or KFC.

Now he is preparing to take on one of his heroes - five-time world champion Van Barneveld, 56 - with the pair set to face off at around 20:45 GMT on Saturday.

It is time for the apprentice to take on the master.

Littler was not even born the last time Van Barneveld won a world championship in 2007.

Although the Dutchman has not reached this stage of the competition since 2018, the contrasting experiences of the pair adds to the fairytale nature of their meeting.

After discovering his opponent on Friday, following Van Barneveld's victory over Welshman Jim Williams, Littler posted a video on social media of himself as a youngster in his living room, arms outstretched, re-enacting his idol's celebration.

Littler has been tipped as a darts prodigy for most of his life, saying he has been playing since he was 18 months old and has played on a full-sized board since he was four.

His mum has also posted videos of him throwing darts at a magnetic board while he was still wearing nappies.

His success has propelled him to overnight fame. Arsenal footballers Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale asked for a photograph with him in a hotel last week.

While Littler has acknowledged Van Barneveld as one of his heroes, the admiration extends both ways.

After his win on Friday that confirmed their meeting, Van Barneveld described Littler's talent as "something else".

"He's on another level," said Van Barneveld, won BDO world titles in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005 before moving to the PDC and triumphing in the 2007 final.

But the Dutchman also added that he would not be too caught up in the attention surrounding their encounter.

"I don't play the player, I play the board. I'm not afraid of Michael van Gerwen, I'm not afraid of [Luke] Humphries, I'm not afraid of Phil Taylor and I'm not afraid of Luke Littler."

While Littler's rise has been the most eye-catching, Van Barneveld's career trajectory has been far from straightforward.

After retiring in 2019, the Dutchman regained his PDC tour card in February 2021 through the qualifying school, but collapsed at an event in Milton Keynes just a month later.

He returned to the World Championship in 2022 - his 30th appearance there - but exited in the second round.

The other last-16 matches on Saturday include Rob Cross facing Welshman Jonny Clayton in the afternoon session and Luke Humphries taking on Joe Cullen in the evening.