Luke Littler praised the Ally Pally crowd after booking his place in the World Darts Championship final with a dominant 6-1 victory over Ryan Searle. The 18-year-old sensation was booed during his quarter-final win over Rob Cross earlier this week, prompting his mother to criticise the spectators. However, Littler received a mixed reception when he took to the stage for his semi-final, with cheers competing against jeers.
Speaking after the match, Littler said: 'This is crazy. A few boos, a few cheers but it's been a good crowd.' He also acknowledged a humorous moment involving sponsor Paddy Power, which blurred signs following Searle's comment about being partially blind. Littler admitted he was unhappy after going 1-0 down but stayed composed, saying: 'I said to myself you will find it.'
The Nuke averaged over 105 despite losing the opening set, turning the match around after Searle missed the bullseye in the third set. Littler capitalised on the error, checking out on tops to seize control. From that point, he never looked back, delivering another masterclass performance.
Littler will face either Gian van Veen or Gary Anderson in the final, commenting: 'It's going to be a brilliant game. I don't mind who I play. They're both good lads.' Sky Sports pundit John Part praised the teenager, saying: 'A wonderful match for Luke Littler. He averaged over 100 in all sets. How do you like to face that if you are the opponent?'
