LITTLER SHRUGS OFF BOOS TO OPEN POLAND MASTERS DEFENCE

LUKE LITTLER shrugged off the boos to keep his Poland Masters title defence alive.

World No.2 Littler battled past Karel Sedlacek 6-4 in Gliwice to reach the quarter-finals, hammering in six 180s and two classy ton-plus checkouts, including a sublime 120 finish.

‘The Nuke’ will now face Nathan Aspinall who has won their previous two encounters.

Teen sensation Littler hopes to see a sold out PreZero Arena for the backend of the World Series event.

He said: “When I came out, I said there were a lot of empty seats but one of the guys said there were still 5,000 in tonight.

“But yeah, I just play my darts, and it is pretty loud when we hit the big 180s and the big checkouts. Hopefully it is better tomorrow.”

Five-times major winner Littler was met with a few jeers from the crowd — but admitted it did not faze him.

He added: “It was okay until the last leg when I settled the 76 when they were booing and whistling.

“I think they wanted the last leg decider but I’m afraid I won the match.”

Littler also expressed his delight at the winner of the upcoming World Championship receiving £1Million after the PDC’s announcement of a huge increase in the prize fund.

The defending champ revealed: “It’s absolutely massive. I’m sure I played a big part of it.

“The big increase in prize money was always going to come — it was the same for many years especially in the World Championships.

“But yeah whoever wins the World Championships is going to be number one.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.