LITTLER HAS CHEEKY DIG BACK AT ANDERSON

LUKE LITTLER had a cheeky dig back at Gary Anderson for calling the younger generation of players BORING.

The teen sensation roared into the World Matchplay semi-finals and plays pal Josh Rock at the Winter Gardens tonight (Sat).

But Littler, 18, responded to legend Ando’s criticism of the new set of stars hitting the oche. 

Earlier in the week, Anderson bemoaned how the tour was now full of “boring” younger players who do not share the banter he used to with the likes of Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis.

He stated: “We used to sit and have a cracking laugh. Nobody talks to anybody. You do not have a good laugh, you do not have a bit of banter. You need to have a laugh.

“The youngsters are boring. Absolutely boring. You talk to them, they are too busy looking at their phone.”

In the press conference after beating Andrew Gilding in the quarter-finals, Littler smiled and hit back at Anderson, saying: “I don’t think he’s a big talker Andrew. A lot of us players we get on with our thing. Like Gary Anderson said, we’re boring, so that’s what we do!”

Littler also broke the record with 18 180s in the quarters – but he didn’t know the record even existed!

He added: “I didn’t know this was even a record for a quarter-final. I’m sure there’s records for round one and going up to the final. 

“It’s another record that I’ve ticked off and hopefully I can go a few better in the semis.”

Now Littler plays one of his best pals Josh Rock tonight for a place in the final. 

He said: “I’ve never played him. I’ve seen on social media the past 24 hours that the fans would love to see me and Josh. 

“Two years ago I saw the game with Josh and Michael Van Gerwen.

“Josh has been on the tour for many years and the youth tour. We’ve been good friends for quite a while. He’s been playing really good darts for quite a few months.

“Obviously I’ve come on the scene but I can definitely say he is an underdog. 

“I don’t think it really matters who you play, whether you are friends or not. As soon as you are on the stage, you are no one’s friend. You are there to do a job.”

Rock is also ready to face his pal but is aware it could be a weird dynamic. 

He said: “I’ll go to my phone and it’ll say ‘see you in the semi-final boy’. I’m not feeling the pressure and he obviously won’t be feeling any pressure.

“We talk nearly every day. The two of us know how we can play. We can both win any tournament. But sometimes when close friends come into the scenario, it can be difficult. 

“It’s the first meeting in an PDC scenario. I’m expecting him to hit everything. So I hope I hit everything. We’ll see who the winner is.”

Image by Taylor Lanning