UNDERDOG Ryan Meikle is hoping to CUT Luke Littler from the World Darts Championship – and celebrate with a short, back and sides.
After winning the Crimpers Derby with fellow hairdresser Fallon Sherrock last Tuesday, the Suffolk barber now faces teen sensation Littler on the shortest day of the year.
Meikle, 28, is not full-time in darts and has worked for 10 years at Nicks Gent’s Hairdressing in the “sleepy town” of Saxmundham, which is a 22-mile drive north of Ipswich.
Hair clippers were in his hands before his second-round date at Ally Pally, which is scheduled for a TV prime-time slot, before the Fury-Usyk heavyweight boxing in Saudi Arabia.
And he geared up for the moment of his life – where his every throw will be watched by millions on TV – with a few close shaves in the day job.
Meikle, who travelled to North London on Friday evening, said: “I’ve been working for the last few weeks since the draw came out.
“I worked last Monday morning and all my customers asked: ‘What are you doing here? You’re playing Fallon tomorrow?’
“I said: ‘What else would I be doing? I’d just think about it more.’ I’m good at work. I can earn a few quid. It takes your mind off it.
“I worked on Thursday and Friday. I didn’t want to book the whole week off as it’s Christmas and it’s busy in the hairdressers.
“Darts players often say to me: ‘Did you bring your clippers?’
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“Luke must have a good barber somewhere. Maybe one on speed dial – he has probably got one there for Saturday.”
Tournament favourite Littler, 17, returns to Ally Pally for the first time since losing to world No.1 Luke Humphries in the world final 353 days ago.
Twelve months ago, as Littler was racing to the final on his debut aged 16, Meikle was watching from the shop and had “the most miserable Christmas ever” because he did not qualify.
The odds are heavily in Littler’s favour – four days after he was voted second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year – while Meikle is just hoping to do enough this week to secure a 2025 Tour Card.
Should the East Anglian cause a huge upset – and knock out the TV ratings winner – then he might get the Alex Ferguson-style HAIRDYER treatment from PDC and Sky Sports bosses!
The world No.62 – who has a six-year-old son – has banked £15,000 so far and he said: “What Luke has done for darts is ridiculous. I don’t think he has any weaknesses to be fair.
“What he has done at his age is unbelievable. I’ll never say a bad word about him.
“People who I’d never thought would talk about darts have done so. I feel lucky to play him on Saturday.
“I’m a massive fan of Luke. I cannot give him enough credit. People say to me: ‘Aren’t you sick of hearing about him?’ No!
“The more we talk about him, the more sponsors we bring him, fingers crossed it means the more money we are making.
“You couldn’t have wished for two better players in terms of social media – Luke and Fallon. I was everywhere.
BELOW is a list of Darts world champions by year.
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once – Barney also won four BDO titles – and none of Eric Bristow’s five BDO titles are included.
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“I’ve never had as much media attention in my life! It’s not because of who I am.
“It’s who I have to play potentially. I wasn’t used to that. I’m happy to get through. This will raise my profile.”
Meikle – who gained confidence from eliminating Gary Anderson in the first round of last month’s Players Championship Finals in Minehead – is not the quickest player on the PDC circuit.
But he denies that he does that intentionally to put off opponents – it is just his style.
The amateur star said: “I don’t want to be known as a slow player. I know people go on about it a lot.
“I’m not looking to slow anyone down or do any tactics. I want to play well myself.
“I won’t say I have got a good chance on Saturday – because I probably haven’t.
“But I know that if I can turn up and play my best and he’s a bit off, I have a bit of a chance. I hope I play my own game and we’ll see what happens.
“There’s no pressure on me. I love coming here, it gives me goosebumps every time I’m here.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of pressure on him, media-wise, TV-wise.
“Hopefully I can relax and play my best game. Everyone is talking about Luke Littler constantly in the world of darts.”
