IF the darting world did not know it, they do now – Luke “The Nuke” Littler is one to watch.
The rapid rise of Warrington’s teenage darting sensation meant he was making his debut at the PDC World Darts Championship at the age of just 16.
And judging by this showing, it may not be a brief experience as he blew away Holland’s former BDO world champion Christian Kist in devastating fashion.
A 3-0 victory in which he dropped just two legs, smashed in seven 180s and recorded an average of 106 sets up a second-round clash with reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding tomorrow evening.
On this form, it is not a clash the 20th seed will be relishing.
“I’m over the moon – for my debut and my first game, I can’t believe how quickly I settled into the game,” Littler told Sky Sports post-match as he dedicated his victory to darting legend Phil “The Power” Taylor.
“When I was walking on, I was a bit nervous but as soon as I found my rhythm, I was in.
“It’s got to be at the top for me – I’ve been playing since I was 18 months old and looking up to Phil Taylor.
“I know he’s watching – that one’s for you Phil – but I’m over the moon.
If he felt in any way nervous about his first experience of darts’ biggest stage, it certainly didn’t show.
With chants of “he’s got school in the morning” bouncing straight off him, he produced a flawless start by sweeping his opponent 3-0 to take the opening set with checkouts of 76, 91 and 43.
Playing with electrifying speed and accuracy, a startling average of 110 was made to look simple.
Kist simply had no answer and another two legs were rattled off in quick time taking just 13 darts each before some brief respite – the Dutchman stopped Littler’s leg streak at five, and even that was after Littler narrowly missed a bullseye to claim a second clean sweep.
However, that only served to fire the teenager up and an 11-dart leg including two 180s saw him move to the brink of victory.
If Kist was hoping for a let-up, Littler had other ideas – another two maximums saw him claim another leg and while his opponent was able to pull level, the respite was again only brief.
A match-high checkout of 106 meant he had the chance to break Kist’s throw again to seal the match, and he took out double 20 to do just that.
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