LITTLER TARGETS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE

By Phil Lanning

LUKE LITTLER admits he is aiming to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back world titles.

The teen sensation will begin the defence of his World Championship at the Ally Pally on December 11.

Littler, 18, was handed a very tricky opening round draw against Lithuanian Darius Labanauskas at Oche in The Strand yesterday (Monday).

Only Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson have defended their world crown at the Ally Pally.

He said: “Very happy with it. Not the quickest player, but it’s all about getting past that first round. It won’t be easy. I have got to try and get past Darius first time round.

“If there are nerves, I know how to cope with them. Last year I didn’t have a clue how to cope with them. But this year, I know what to expect, the expectations. If nerves come, then I’ll know how to deal with it.

“It’s very different (when you are defending a trophy). Obviously, I have won the last three majors now. Now the big one, it’s round the corner. I am looking forward to it. Gary Anderson was the last person to go back-to-back, that was ten years ago. That is all I am looking forward to – to go back-to-back.

“I don’t know (how it will feel). The first time round, more players, all of the seeds are in the first round now. So, if I want to go on and lift the trophy, we have got to play an extra game. I am excited to get up on that stage.

“I’ll have a few days’ rest, exhibitions, rest, exhibitions. Before December 11, I will have 4-5 days off.

“The three majors, well even four majors, I lost the World Series to Michael van Gerwen in Amsterdam. But just winning the last few before the Worlds it’s massive. Increased gap to Luke as world No1 I get money taken off, Luke gets money taken off. But yeah, I can’t wait for the 11th.

“People said after the Premier League defeat, am I going to go under radar, and start losing things. Then I won the World Matchplay, and I have won the last three majors. Do I take notice of it? Not really. Fingers crossed, I have not had a bad patch really. I have always been on it. Come 11th I will be ready.

“It’s obviously on your mind (the money). For myself, I have said to everyone today, it’s just going back-to-back. Only three players have done it. The last time was 10 years ago. Back-to-back and then think about the money after.

“I have still got to tick off the Masters in Milton Keynes and the European Championship. And then I have got them all ticked off. I have always said I want to win one of every major and double and triple it.”

Other fascinating ties include Peter Wright taking on transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven, Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton, Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock, Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts and Daryl Gurney has a blockbuster tie with Beau Greaves.

Full draw:

Luke Littler (1) v Darius Labanauskas

Luke Humphries (2) v Ted Evetts

Michael van Gerwen (3) v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami

Stephen Bunting (4) v Sebastian Bialecki

Jonny Clayton (5) v Adam Lipscombe

Danny Noppert (6) v Jurjen van der Velde

James Wade (7) v Ryusei Azomoto

Chris Dobey (8) v Xiachen Zong

Gerwyn Price (9) v Adam Gawlas

Gian van Veen (10) v Cristo Reyes

Josh Rock (11) v Gemma Hayter

Ross Smith (12) v Andreas Harrysson

Martin Schindler (13) v Stephen Burton

Gary Anderson (14) v Adam Hunt

Nathan Aspinall (15) v Lourence Ilagan

Damon Heta (16) v Steve Lennon

Rob Cross (17) v Cor Dekker

Mike De Decker (18) v David Munyua

Jermaine Wattimena (19) v Dominik Gruellich

Ryan Searle (20) v Chris Landman

Dave Chisnall (21) v Fallon Sherrock

Daryl Gurney (22) v Beau Greaves

Dimitri Van den Bergh (23) v Darren Beveridge

Ryan Joyce (24) v Owen Bates

Luke Woodhouse (25) v Boris Krcmar

Cameron Menzies (26) v Charlie Manby

Ritchie Edhouse (27) v Jonny Tata

Michael Smith (28) v Lisa Ashton

Dirk van Duijvenbode (29) v Andy Baetens

Peter Wright (30) v Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Wessel Nijman (31) v Karel Sedlacek

Joe Cullen (32) v Bradley Brooks

Ricardo Pietreczko v Jose De Sousa

Andrew Gilding v Cam Crabtree

Raymond van Barneveld v Stefan Bellmont

Scott Williams v Paolo Nebrida

Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo

Martin Lukeman v Max Hopp

Brendan Dolan v Tavis Dudeney

Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung

Niko Springer v Joe Comito

William O’Connor v Krzysztof Kciuk

Niels Zonneveld v Haupai Puha

Kevin Doets v Matthew Dennant

Jeffrey de Graaf v Paul Lim

Mickey Mansell v Leonard Gates

Mario Vandenbogaerde v David Davies

Callan Rydz v Patrik Kovacs

Ian White v Mervyn King

Dom Taylor v Oskar Lukasiak

Richard Veenstra v Nitin Kumar

Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik

Alan Soutar v Teemu Harju

Lukas Wenig v Wesley Plaisier

Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk

Mensur Suljovic v David Cameron

Gabriel Clemens v Alex Spellman

Thibault Tricole v Motomu Sakai

Ryan Meikle v Jesus Salate

James Hurrell v Stowe Buntz

Nick Kenny v Justin Hood

Matt Campbell v Adam Sevada

Keane Barry v Tim Pusey

Connor Scutt v Simon Whitlock

Image by Taylor Lanning.