Littler hits £3M jackpot and prepares for roaring Price battle

LUKE LITTLER is ready for a ROARING BATTLE after becoming the first-ever darts £3million man.

The World No.1 smashed Dirk Van Duijvenbode 17-5 to reach his second successive World Matchplay final on Sunday night.

Littler, 19, hit a 110.88 average and is now the first arrows star to ever overtake £3m on the world rankings and faces Gerwyn Price to try and defend his title.

He said: “I want to stay dominant, I want to keep winning and winning. I want to keep at the top. I want to beat Phil Taylor’s record. I think it’s maybe three or four years (at World No.1).

“I just have to keep going. I have a fair bit to defend at the backend of the year.

“I think Gez will try and get me into a roaring battle tomorrow. As long as I get off into a lead, I’ll be happy.

“I wouldn’t say [it gets] under my skin. But if I see him roaring, I am like, I want to do it.

“Then I get trapped in it up until the end of the game. We have seen it in the Premier League at the O2; he nearly came back and beat me.”

Littler breezed into an early lead by taking the opening four legs to lead the opening session 4-1.

The Nuke was even averaging 117 as he ripped the Dutchman apart to go further ahead at 8-2.

Littler was utterly ruthless and hit the Dutchman with a barrage of big scores to open up the gap to 15-4 in a stroll the final - and soon sealed the deal.

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning