Luke Littler mentioned he can sense a “tension” amongst his rivals within the face of his rising success as he continues his pursuit of a maiden World Darts Championship crown.Â
Littler has emerged as one of many faces of the game throughout a meteoric rise that has seen him end runner-up on debut at Ally Pally earlier than successful the Premier League, World Sequence of Darts Finals and Grand Slam of Darts.
He additionally not too long ago completed runner-up for BBC Sports activities Character of the 12 months behind Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, such has been his influence on the prominence of darts in 2024.
Is the darting world jealous of the 17-year-old?
“I don’t know. I’d probably say some players do show it, mainly on the pro tour,” mentioned Littler.
“But I’ve seen Scott Williams’ interview – he’s getting sponsorship opportunities, people asking him because of myself. So it’s good to see what I’ve done, especially for the players and whatever sponsors they can get.”
Littler survived an epic on Monday night time to beat Ryan Joyce 4-3 and punch his ticket to the quarter-finals as he seeks to go one higher than final 12 months’s defeat to Luke Humphries within the ultimate.
He’s now the highest-seeded participant left in a contest into which he had arrived with heightened expectations as one of many favourites to emerge as champion. By now he can afford a smile ought to he ever hear any sideways remarks.
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Littler will face Nathan Aspinall within the quarter-finals after edging Joyce previous 4-3
“It’s definitely not to my face,” Littler added. “Not as soon as I walk in, but whenever I’m practising, I can just feel that tension. And I just laugh at it.”
Awaiting Littler within the quarter-finals is a gathering with Nathan Aspinall, who beat Ricardo Pietreczko 4-0 with a median of 94.28 having reeled off 10 straight legs.
“It’s going to be tough,” mentioned Littler. “But I’ve won most of them. Nathan’s only got one win over me. It’s good to get the wins over Nathan. But it’s the last eight of the World Championship and anyone can win on the day.”
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Aspinall mentioned he has been proven ‘no respect’ and has to maintain proving himself
Littler admitted he’s unlikely to talk to Aspinall throughout the build-up, underlining the significance of pushing friendships apart.
“Probably not. We’ll just keep ourselves to ourselves,” he mentioned. “Obviously, he’ll celebrate New Year with his family and his two girls, and obviously I’ll celebrate with mum and dad.
“You’ve got simply obtained to enter each recreation how you’ll both means in case you’re enjoying your greatest mate or somebody you actually dislike. You’ve got simply obtained to beat what’s in entrance of you.”
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW.
