LITTLER TAKES INSPIRATION FROM ASPINALL IN MATCHPLAY COMEBACK

LUKE LITTLER admits he took inspiration from Nathan Aspinall who has the “best mentality” in darts.

‘The Nuke’ looked to be on course for a shock exit at the Winter Gardens after falling 7-2 behind to Jermiane Wattimena in round two of the World Matchplay. 

World No. 2 Littler pulled off a stunning comeback and eventually prevailed 13-11 to book his place in the quarter-finals where he will play Andrew Gilding. 

Asked if the victory was proof that he has the best mentality in darts, Littler rejected the idea and hailed Aspinall as the standout player in that department. 

He said: “I probably wouldn’t say so. I think one of the best players with the best mentality is probably Nathan Aspinall.  

“If he’s 5-0, 6-0 down he’s going to find a way to come back. I was three or four legs down each time tonight and found a way out of it. 

“I know Nathan so well and all you know he never gives up, he’ll always try to the end. I just said to myself, you’ve got to find something here, pull it out of the bag.” 

Teen sensation Littler celebrated his tiebreak success by pointing to the star on his shirt, present since his World Championship win in January. 

He added: “I’m a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it.  

“I’ve not felt pressure like that since the World Championships. I was a bit nervous but the crowd was unbelievable and it’s on to my third game here and I’ve won two of them. 

“It was just saying to myself, saying to the fans, I am world champion for a reason, we come back.  

“I want to get back on stage and right now I can’t wait to be in the quarter-final. If I didn’t go 7-3, it would have been a lot harder.  

“But yeah, to go 7-3 I just said to myself, ‘You have got to win at least the next two or three legs when you come back on. 

“Obviously for myself I’d rather be blasted off into the lead like I did against Ryan Searle, but it wasn’t to be and I pulled it out of the bag. 

“Probably since the Ryan Joyce game, I have not let that much emotion out of me since then.  

“But it’s just good for myself to show the emotion and show that I can always find a way to come back.” 

Littler is now three wins away from completing each of the Triple Crown events – the World Championship, the Premier League, and World Matchplay.

Images by Taylor Lanning.