Luke Littler delivers telling three-word statement that will worry World Champs rivals

Littler

Luke Littler has cruised through to the semi-finals (Image: Getty)

Luke Littler insisted there were “no nerves tonight” as he defeated 5-2 to advance to the semi-finals. The teenage sensation has been easing his way past the competition once again.

was in control for most of his New Year’s Day tie with Aspinall, losing the third and sixth sets but rarely looking threatened to with Stephen Bunting. During the post-game press conference, the 17-year-old admitted he enjoyed the match and didn’t feel nervous at all.

said: “I’ll be honest, no nerves tonight. I just absolutely enjoyed myself as I should be doing and hopefully tomorrow night I can just enjoy myself once again. And also, hopefully get the win over Stephen.”

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When questioned on the absence of any tension in the quarter-finals, Littler claimed that he’s never felt better during a major tournament event and is excited for the next round. The teenager added: “Yeah, I’d say this World Championships is the best I’ve felt. I won’t say there were no nerves in that last set but I just thought to myself ‘get it over and done with now’.”

It hasn’t been a completely calm and collected Worlds for Littler, who appeared to be feeling the anxiety and pressure earlier on in the tournament. Following his opening victory over Ryan Meikle, the 17-year-old couldn’t hold his emotions back as he left the oche visibly emotional and headed straight to embrace his parents.

When questioned by talkSPORT after the tense match, Littler admitted he had dealt with some doubts beforehand and needed to shake himself a bit in order to enter the stage. He said: “All week I was looking forward, excited to play on stage, no nerves. The train journey down here was fine, just being myself.

Littler

Littler was emotional following his second-round win earlier in the tournament (Image: Getty)

“And then as soon as I got on that stage, it was like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ Just in my head. It was tough, but I dragged myself over the line.”

Littler added: “The first set was just absolute nerves. Obviously I broke him and then come on for the second set with the throw and just didn’t do awfully much about it. I always say after those two breaks, you say to yourself, ‘That’s it now, you’ve had your two breaks’.

“It was probably the toughest game I’ve ever played. I had to fight until the end. As soon as the question came on stage and then boom, the tears came. It was just a bit too much to speak on stage. It is the worst game I have played. I have never felt anything like that.

“Yes, probably the biggest time it’s [the nerves] hit me. Coming into it I was fine, but as soon as [referee] George Noble said ‘game on’, I couldn’t throw them.”

Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall

Littler bested good friend Nathan Aspinall to reach the final four of the Worlds (Image: Getty)

Littler’s sudden move from a bundle of nerves in the second round to a composed player in the quarter-finals speaks to his capabilities to mature throughout a tournament and play his best.

The struggle in the beginning coupled with the smooth transition into playing nerve-free darts is a testament to just how good Littler is – and exactly why he’s the favourite to win the whole tournament.

He will take on Bunting in one semi-final, with Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen going head-to-head in the other. For the 17-year-old, it’s a chance to avenge his runner-up finish to Luke Humphries 12 months ago and become the youngest world champion in history.

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