Reigning world darts champion Luke Littler has made a surprising admission ahead of next month's World Darts Championship, revealing the one opponent he hopes to avoid in Monday's draw: women's world number one Beau Greaves.
The Champion's Unexpected Concern
Fresh from his Players Championship Finals triumph over Nathan Aspinall on Sunday, the 18-year-old phenom should be riding high with confidence. His victory extended what has been a spectacular year that saw him claim six major titles and recently ascend to the sport's coveted world number one ranking.
Yet immediately after securing his latest trophy, 'The Nuke' offered insight into his championship mentality, declaring: 'I'm looking to the big one next month.' That 'big one' is the World Championship at Alexandra Palace, where Littler will defend the title he famously won last year at just 17 years and 347 days old.
Despite entering as top seed and overwhelming favourite, Littler confessed his reluctance to face the three-time Women's World Champion in the opening rounds. 'I'll just see whoever I draw – there are loads of huge names and the seeds are in the first round now, so it's two games before Christmas,' the world number one explained. 'I've just got to focus on the 11th and get my job done. But I don't think I'd like to play Beau Greaves in that first round because I don't think many people want me to win.'
A Formidable Opponent with Growing Support
Littler's apprehension isn't without foundation. Last month, Greaves delivered a stunning performance that knocked the young champion out of the World Youth Championships. That victory brought the 21-year-old significant attention and booked her place in the final, though she ultimately lost 6-3 to defending champion Gian van Veen on Sunday.
While Littler remains a fan favourite, Greaves has developed a substantial cult following and earned praise from some of darts' biggest names. Her growing popularity adds an interesting dimension to Littler's concern about public support should they meet at Alexandra Palace.
Greaves enters the tournament as the reigning three-time WDF Women's World Champion and women's world number one, aiming to make a deep run in next month's competition. Her recent success comes despite her own previous doubts about competing against top male players.
From Self-Doubt to Serious Contender
Just last year, Greaves expressed skepticism about women competing at the highest level of men's darts. 'Men's and ladies darts should be separate,' she stated. 'I don't think any lady will ever go to Ally Pally and win that. If you think that, you're being silly.'
She elaborated further, revealing her previous anxiety about facing male competitors: 'When I go to the Grand Slam I don't look forward to it because I know I have got to play men. I don't fancy my chances at all - I am just realistic.' This self-confessed fear had previously led her to decline World Championship invitations, questioning whether she belonged on that stage.
However, Greaves has since earned recognition from established stars, including Luke Humphries, who complimented her after narrowly beating her in the UK Open, stating she 'belongs in this environment'.
As Monday's draw approaches, all eyes will be on whether these two rising stars of darts will be paired together, creating what would undoubtedly be one of the tournament's most talked-about matches.
