LITTLER ARRIVED LATE TO LEEDS DUE TO SIDE HUSTLE

LUKE LITTLER revealed he was running late for the Premier League in Leeds after a last-minute stop to post eBay trading cards.

The teen sensation reached the First Direct Arena at 6:45pm following a chaotic dash from home with girlfriend Faith, including a detour to the post office to sort out trading card deliveries. 

The world No.1 still stormed to Night 14 glory and equalled his own record of six nightly wins in a single campaign. 

Littler edged past Luke Humphries 6-5 in a thrilling final after earlier seeing off Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton by the same scoreline. 

He said: “Like I said earlier tonight, I would’ve preferred to go straight on stage. I managed to have a little practice, but yeah, another nightly win for the tally.

“I came straight from home. We were supposed to leave at three, but I wasn’t ready, Faith wasn’t ready, and we were rushing around.

“Then we went to the post office to send some cards off from eBay, getting all the shipping and tracking sorted.  

“That’s why we were almost late, but we got here in time.” 

The Warrington whizkid then admitted he had to put his foot down on the motorway. 

He added: “I was driving! It was a bit reckless, but I had to get here.  

“The timing on the sat-nav just kept going up and up. We got here about twenty to seven, quarter to seven, so it all worked out well.” 

Littler held his nerve in three straight last-leg deciders and reckons rivals may already fear facing him in those situations. 

He continued: “Obviously beating them numerous times in last-leg deciders over the years helps me. 

“Like you said, it might be in their heads: ‘Hang on a minute, it’s me against Luke Littler in another last-leg decider.’  

“I might already have won over them before that leg even starts. Ever since the JDC days, I’ve always backed myself, and I think I produce really well in deciding legs. 

“Whether you beat them comfortably or in a last leg, it’s always on the mind.  

“Obviously the record with Gezzy [Price] is a pretty even one, and me and Luke [Humphries] beat each other all the time, same with me and Michael [van Gerwen].  

“But if I keep getting these wins week in, week out, it gives me a lot of confidence. Then when they next face me, they know they’ve got to produce even better.” 

Littler also joked that fans may eventually get tired of booing him after hostile receptions earlier this season. 

He said: “I think it’s always going to come, and this is what I’ve got to do, just keep winning and keep winning.  

“Eventually, hopefully they’ll get bored of me because nothing’s really working. Ever since Rotterdam, even tonight, there were a few boos, but nothing will ever top that.  

“I think I can battle past anything now.” 

As a Manchester United fan, Littler admitted victory over Humphries in front of a Leeds crowd made the night even sweeter, especially after spotting several Leeds United players outside the arena beforehand. 

He said: “Think I was round the corner from the venue and saw them all. I spotted Ethan Ampadu and thought, ‘Is that Ethan Ampadu?’  

“Then I saw Willy Gnonto, the little one! I beeped at them and they all looked over, so I beeped again.  

“Luke’s obviously got a very good record there, so it was nice to get one over him.” 

Littler revealed he pocketed £50 from Clayton after a football bet involving Manchester United and Liverpool. 

He said: “Think I’m a bit clearer now. Coming into it, Jonny was probably the least favourite to win it, fifty to one or something, and he’s proved everyone wrong again.

“To increase the gap over Jonny, especially with the way he’s been playing, and to beat him tonight, I think that was crucial. We’ll just have to see how the next two weeks play out. 

“I got a nice little £50 off him, cash in hand, so that was nice! I think we said we’d post each other in a Liverpool or United shirt as well, but I didn’t get involved with that.  

“I’m not into all the AI editing stuff. But yeah, I took £50 off him and hopefully took top spot off him tonight too.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.