LITTLER DRIVEN BY DOUBTERS AND HATERS

LUKE LITTLER thrives off believing he has “doubters and haters” to perform at his very best, according to pundit Dan Dawson.

The Nuke, appears to use that mindset as motivation, even despite being one of the most popular and heavily backed players on the circuit. 

World No.1 Littler, a devoted Manchester United fan, was met with heavy jeers from the Liverpool crowd but responded in emphatic fashion, thrashing Jonny Clayton 6-1 in the Night 12 Premier League final. 

The victory secured his fourth nightly win, cut the gap at the top to just two points and kept him firmly second in the standings. 

Dawson believes the hostile atmosphere sharpened Littler and may be driving his success. 

He said: “I’ve formed a theory and it might be nonsense. 

“Luke Littler, we have heard him at times have this weird perspective where he thinks there are all these doubters and haters. 

“Even though he is one of the most incredibly supported players on this planet and a red-hot favourite for every tournament he goes into.

“But still thinks loads of people, the majority of them at times, want him to lose. Tonight most of the people do want him to lose.

“You heard the noise that he got and I think he has dealt with that perfectly. I think it might help him stay perfectly focused.”

Littler has dominated the oche over the past two years, racking up an incredible 12 major titles. 

But the Warrington thrower bizarrely thought many had written him off ahead of his latest UK Open triumph. 

He added: “I don’t think many people expected me to come here and win. I don’t think many people expected me to win the Premier League last week.  

“But I think I can sort of say I am back to my best. I had a dry spell but I am back.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.