Luke Littler has admitted he lost his head during his fourth-round victory over Rob Cross at the PDC World Darts Championship, after the crowd at Alexandra Palace turned hostile. The 18-year-old defending champion was booed and jeered throughout the match, which he won 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
Littler reacted emotionally after hitting the winning darts, running around the stage and gesturing to the crowd. He then told the audience during his on-stage interview: 'You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money, so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me.'
Reflecting on his behaviour, Littler said: 'I think I lost my head, it's still on there. Two years ago I think I would have started throwing my darts left-handed, but that is how much I have grown, how much I have matured. People might say I have not matured, but try and be in my position. I can still learn a lot. I can learn how to deal with the crowd, not let as much emotion out.'
The teenager acknowledged it was the first time at the world championships that the crowd had not wanted him to win. He added: 'I will expect the worst on New Year's Day and whatever happens will happen. The fans did what they did, I reacted like any other player would.'
Despite the distractions, Littler produced a champion-like performance, averaging 106.5 and hitting 17 180s. He said: 'It definitely fuelled me up and it made me play better. I am only a few games away from lifting the trophy once again but the performance really doesn't feel like a 106.5, because there was that much adrenaline going through me, that much emotion, the anger. I am glad I won.'
Littler will face Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski in the quarter-finals on Thursday, after Ratajski defeated Luke Woodhouse 4-2 on Tuesday afternoon.
