LITTLER HOPES NO PLAYER WALK-OFFS

By Phil Lanning

LUKE LITTLER admits he hopes players don’t have to walk-off stage in protest after the Glasgow whistlers debacle. 

The World Champion won night two of the Premier League at the OVO Hydro a week ago despite annoying fans trying to wreck the event by distracting the players.

But Littler, 18, has dismissed talk that the top stars might exit the stage if the fan abuse gets too much. 

He revealed: “Obviously, we wouldn’t want it to happen to anyone. 

“But if that was the worst case, then I am sure a player…I don’t know, has he got the right to walk off stage? Maybe. Or maybe not.”

“Well, if a player does walk off stage, then I’m sure, obviously the security have got to do their job and obviously kick whoever is, whoever’s whistling or what they are doing, just kick them out. And then I’m sure us players, we can get on with it.

“Obviously, it’s not a good thing for any fans to be whistling, whether it’s me or my opponent. 

“But, for example, Rob Cross, when he missed two at double 18, then they whistled, he missed. Obviously, I’d probably say it was the crowd’s fault that he did miss those doubles because you never see Rob miss double 18. And then I just had to take my chance and go five each.”

Littler takes on Gerwyn Price in Dublin tonight (Thursday) second in the league table. But he looked dead and buried at 5-1 down to Cross a week ago and delivered a stunning comeback. 

He added: “I wouldn’t say it was tough. Obviously, when I come off stage, I heard that Rob was on a 110 average at 5-1 up. 

“So just looking back on it for myself to come back against an in-form Rob Cross with a 110 average, it just goes to show how well I did play.

“I finished the match on a 104 and, obviously, Rob dropped off a bit and that’s when I did pounce on him.

“That could be the turning point in qualification for the top four. For example, I could finish four joint points with someone and I could go through on nights won. 

“So you’ve just got to take every chance that you do get.”

Littler has lost his last four matches to Price. The Iceman is the only player to inflict that on the teen sensation. 

However, The Nuke is not bothered by the stats. He added: “I wouldn’t say he’s my bogeyman. Obviously, he played out of his skin in Bahrain. I couldn’t do much against him.

“Obviously, he’s played brilliant against me near enough every time. 

“For myself, I’ve just got to make sure tomorrow night win that first game and guarantee myself some more points on the board.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.