In a dramatic shift from fan favourite to “villain,” defending champion Luke Littler hit back at a hostile Alexandra Palace crowd following his tense 4-2 victory over Rob Cross in the World Darts Championship last 16.
Despite averaging a stunning 106.5 and landing 17 maximums, the 18-year-old was met with persistent boos and jeers throughout the match as fans threw their support behind the underdog, Cross.
After pinning the winning double, Littler turned to the crowd with defiant gestures shouting, “Now what?” before addressing the atmosphere in a fiery post-match interview.
Clearly fueled by the friction, the world number one sarcastically thanked the hecklers for their contribution to his bank account.
“I’m not bothered, really not bothered,” Littler told reporters. “You guys pay for tickets that pay for my prize money so thank you. Thank you for my money, thanks for booing me!”
Reflecting on his emotional reaction, Littler admitted he let the pressure get under his skin temporarily.
“I think I lost my head, it’s still on the stage!” he joked while noting that the experience was a first for him at this tournament.
“That’s the first time I’ve been at the World Championship and the crowd haven’t wanted me to win. So, yeah, I expect the worst on New Year’s Day whoever I do play.”
Comments are closed.