Luke Littler: Teenager faces ridiculous stage of stress at World Darts Championship | Darts Information

Legend John Half says teenager Luke Littler has to stay with “ridiculous” ranges of stress as he bids to win his first World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Littler got here inside millimeters of a nine-dart outcome by beating Ryan Meikle in record-breaking trend on Saturday evening.

The 17-year-old was again on the large stage 12 months after his outstanding debut all the way in which to the ultimate and confirmed everybody why he was the favourite to win the title this 12 months.

Littler was a breath away from perfection when he missed a double 12 but threw a superb average of 140.91 in the final set to win 3-1.

It’s the file for the very best single set common on the world championship because the Warrington ace continues to interrupt obstacles.

The win was extraordinarily emotional for Littler, who interrupted her onstage interview after breaking down in tears.

“I don’t assume anybody can perceive the stress he places on him,” Half stated. Aerial sports activities. “There are perhaps just a few individuals who have performed this recreation who may perceive it, however nobody has ever needed to take care of it at their age.

“The overwhelming variety of calls for on his time and any likelihood of him not enjoying, I believe it actually weighs on him. I am positive there’s a lot reduction for him.

“I am positive he is upset that he missed a nine-darter, however I do not assume that had something to do with the exit on the finish. I believe it is fairly wholesome.

“There’s a whole lot of feelings constructed up there, and it’s a must to management that when you’re enjoying. That is why he is a winner. You recognize what, if he must have a while to himself afterwards, then it isn’t an issue.”

Littler arrived on the match as the largest title within the sport and ‘The Nuke’ booked his return to Ally Pally after Christmas in opposition to both Ritchie Edhouse or Ian White within the third spherical.

“He had enjoyable, he in all probability went to all these new locations, performed tournaments he’d by no means performed earlier than, received a whole lot of them, performed a whole lot of matches,” Half continued. “If you happen to like enjoying darts, enjoying a whole lot of matches is enjoyable.

“He had a good time, however I believe the entire actuality of what he did for the match that began eventually 12 months’s World Championship lastly got here crashing down on him after he received.

“It’s nice that it’s not after a loss, as a result of it wouldn’t even appear honest after the whole lot he did for the sport.

” Luke, I noticed that none of his experiences enjoying video games final 12 months had been of any assist to him, I do not assume, as a result of I believe he’s a very completely different participant now he has completely different expectations of himself and of his opponents what they may do in opposition to him.

“There was a little bit of awkwardness final 12 months, enjoying in opposition to a 16-year-old and the gamers did not know what to consider it. ‘Am I going to be embarrassed if I lose, perhaps?’ These old style concepts, aren’t they? Not this 12 months: he is the match favourite.

“He is the god of darts in lots of people’s eyes that they have been ready for. It is so as much as par for him. I simply assume it was the primary expertise of his actual skilled profession on the world championships.

“The degrees of expectations, the ridiculous stage of stress he will need to stay with. It will not go away, it would each time he performs, however he’ll turn out to be conditioned, I am positive.”

Watch the World Darts Championship on Sky Sports activities

Watch all of the motion at PDC World Darts Championship 2025 from Alexandra Palace on Sky Sports activities Darts as Luke Humphries defends his title with Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson all difficult ‘Cool Hand’ for the Sid Waddell Trophy – and you’ll get pleasure from the most effective of it right here.

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