With the World Championship and Premier League already tucked neatly under his teenage belt, Luke Littler now has his sights set on the third jewel in darts’ prestigious Triple Crown: the World Matchplay. And if Sunday night was anything to go by, you’d be mad to bet against him.
Facing Ryan Searle in round one, Littler didn’t just win – he obliterated. The 10–2 scoreline tells one story, but the numbers behind it scream louder. A final average of 108.92 – and that’s after easing off in the closing stages, like a darts-playing Usain Bolt jogging the last 20 metres. At one point, he had darting statisticians frantically scanning through the archives with the sheer force of his scoring.
Searle – a very, very good player by any measure – was made to look like he’d wandered in off the North Pier with three pints of lager and a foam finger. The only thing heavier than Littler’s scoring was the sigh of relief when it was all over. For Littler, it was just another day at the office – which is mildly terrifying:
“Yeah, the Triple Crown is there to be won,” he said after the win. “With Humphries out now, it won’t be a Luke v Luke final.”
The line was delivered casually, like he was talking about popping to the shop – but the message was clear. He’s not in Blackpool for the candy-floss – although it’s a fair bet he’s sampled some. With seeds and former champions falling like flies – including the now-absent world number one – the draw is opening up nicely. Littler may only be 18, but he’s suddenly looking like one of the most seasoned figure left in the tournament.
What’s most unnerving for the rest of the field is how normal it all seems to him. He plays with the freedom of someone unburdened by the usual Matchplay scar tissue. That youthful innocence, fused with outrageous natural talent and a rock-solid temperament, makes him a nightmare to face.
I found him wandering around backstage before his match, asking where the players were supposed to go. “It’s only my second time here,” he shrugged, as I showed him in the right direction. I’m sure Ryan Searle would’ve preferred I’d pointed him towards the beach instead. Now, something even more frightening for the rest of the field – the teenager is actually spending time on the practice board.
“Yeah. Not one a title for a good few months. It’s just basically legs of 501. Nothing specific like doubles or outshots.”
There’s no high-tech training, no analytics team, no lab coats. Just throw, hit, repeat – and, more often than not, win. Warrington might want to start sculpting that statue now – and leave space for the growing list of trophies. When teased about having his likeness cast in bronze on Bridge Street, Littler simply grinned: “There should be.”
Next up is Jermaine Wattimena – a decent player on his day, but one without a single PDC title to his name of any description. And if Littler starts the way he did against Searle, the Dutchman might need a riot shield, never mind a game plan.
The Triple Crown has only ever been won by a select few. If Littler manages it in a week’s time, he won’t just break the record for the youngest ever to do so – he’ll do it by a country mile. But then again, breaking records is something he’s been doing pretty much every week anyway.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
Graphic: Darts World instagram.com/dartsworldmedia/
