LITTLER: “MASSIVE” THAT TAYLOR IS WATCHING
20/12/2023 By Phil Lanning
LUKE LITTLER admits it’s “massive” that his hero Phil Taylor will be cheering him on from home.
The 16-year-old takes on former BDO champ Christian Kist in the first round of the Paddy Power World Championship tonight.
Warrington-born Littler is the third youngest player to take part in the 30-year-old tournament after Mitchell Clegg and Max Hopp, who were also both 16 on their debuts.
He could become the second youngest-ever winner on the Ally Pally stage and admitted: “I first picked up a set of magnetic darts when I was about one-and-a-half. My mum and dad got them for me.
“At four, I started playing on a small board with proper Phil Taylor darts.
“Around six or seven, I started throwing from the proper height at proper length. I was coming back from school and playing or watching darts. I practised while it was on the TV.
“My dad never really played in the pub. He’d always be playing in the house and I watched him.
“My hero is Taylor. I met him at a Target Darts launch this year and he said he’d been watching me. He told me to keep it up.
“It’s massive to think Taylor will be watching me on TV.”
Littler’s prep for the biggest match of his life have involved practising with Nathan Aspinall, the reigning World Matchplay champion.
He added: “I’m always at home practising when I have spare time.
“Most of my mates go out, drink, smoke, whatever. But I’m not into all that.
“I just get my head focused on the darts. Now I’ve got a Tour Card, I have to focus on one thing.
“I’m looking forward to my match. With thousands watching me, I think there will be a bit of nerves.
“If my game is there, then I have a decent chance.
“Not to be big-headed but I do fancy my chances against Kist. And then I do fancy my chances against Gilding.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
