sportskeeda
LUKE LITTLER encountered a wave of boos from fans after a “tasteless” incident at the World Darts Championship.
The 17-year-old Littler advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 triumph over Ian White on Saturday night.
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The youthful talent will face Ryan Joyce on Monday, showcasing an impressive average of 97.84.
His TWELVE 180s had the crowd at Ally Pally buzzing once again.
Littler even playfully poked fun at his emotional second-round celebration by pretending to cry in front of his family.
However, a peculiar incident occurred mid-match against White when the crowd erupted into boos.
Littler, leading 2-1 in sets but trailing 1-0 in the third, aimed for a 130 checkout while White was still at 243.
He hit a 20 and T20, positioning himself to go for the Bullseye.
Fans were eager to see him finish by hitting the central target.
Instead, he chose to go for the 10, giving White another chance but allowing himself a simpler D20 for the leg.
This choice did not sit well with some fans, who began to boo the previous year’s finalist.
Littler reacted by glaring at several booing supporters before nodding his head multiple times.
Luke Littler celebrates after defeating Ian White to advance to the PDC World Championship last 16
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This elicited laughter from the Sky Sports commentator, who remarked, “Sensible play, even if it annoys the crowd.”
As more fans cheered in response to Littler’s nods, the commentator chuckled: “He doesn’t care what you want!”
The other co-commentator added, “They won’t complain if he hits a nine (darter). He’s allowed to teach them a lesson.”
After the match, Littler explained the meaning behind his gestures towards the audience.
He shared, “Sometimes, I can be a bit ruthless on the board. I don’t think anyone is being kind. It’s good to show some aggression.”
“It’s important for me to demonstrate that I can be merciless. Ian has been around the circuit for many years and even faced my granddad.”
“For me, it’s vital to be relentless, especially on that final dart as so many people are watching.”
Exploring Littler’s extraordinary rise
LUKE LITTLER has captivated the darts world since making his debut at the PDC World Championship earlier this year.
