Luke Littler has admitted he lost his head during his fourth-round PDC World Darts Championship win over Rob Cross, after being booed by the crowd at Alexandra Palace. The 18-year-old defending champion beat Cross 4-2 on Tuesday, but reacted angrily to the hostile reception, gesturing to the crowd and telling them in an 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.'
Littler, who has been the darling of the sport since his emergence two years ago, said it was the first time at the world championships the crowd had not wanted him to win. 'I think I lost [my head], it's still on there,' he said. '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.'
The teenager admitted he reacted too early after the first set, but said the booing fuelled him to play better. He averaged 106.5 and threw 17 180s in a champion-like performance. 'It definitely fuelled me up and it made me play better,' he added. '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 beat Luke Woodhouse 4-2 on Tuesday afternoon. Littler said he expects the worst from the crowd on New Year's Day and will just get on with the job.
