Mardle questions Littler’s World Youth Championship entry

WAYNE MARDLE reckons Luke Littler can “only lose” by entering the World Youth Championship.

Former pro Mardle questioned what The Nuke has to gain from playing in the tournament despite backing him to lift the title.

Littler, 19, will headline the list of Tour Card Holders and International Qualifiers competing in Monday's event.

The world No1 remains eligible for the competition until he turns 24 and is chasing a second title after winning the tournament in 2023.

But Mardle cannot understand why Littler is adding another event to his schedule after previously missing tournaments in a bid to stay fresh.

He said: “I don’t get it. No, I don’t. I was going to say I don’t think it’s fair on the others but he got beat last year.

“But I don’t know what he wants to gain from it. He can only lose. Unless he wants competitive practice before the worlds.

“There will be plenty of time with the Grand Slam and stuff. No, I don’t understand it. I don’t know what his advisors have planned.

“But bearing in mind this is someone who has missed a load of events because he wants to keep fresh.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me.

“I think he’ll perform well. There is a recency bias going on, oh he is not winning. He still wins a lot, he has just not won the last two.

“That’s all. It’s just two events he has not won. He’ll probably win and go off massive favourite.

“Good luck to him going in it. I just don’t see the value time wise because time management is everything when you are playing a lot.

“He’ll win it, right?”

Littler heads into the tournament after a tricky spell on the big stage.

The teen sensation reached the quarter-finals of the World Series Finals in Amsterdam before suffering a shock first-round exit at the World Grand Prix.

14-time major winner Littler was beaten 10-4 by Jonny Clayton in the Netherlands and Luke Woodhouse dumped him out in Leicester with a 2-1 victory.

But Mardle insists Littler's recent defeats should not be viewed as a sign his form has deserted him and believes the appearance could help him rediscover his competitive edge.

He added: “Yeah quite possibly. The competitive edge that he maybe wants to get back because he is not having deep runs.

“It’s a valid reason to do so. If that is it then fair enough. But it’s up to him. We can all say what we feel in our opinions.

“But if he is feeling like he wants to play then absolutely bang on. If he does go and win it and feels better for it he knows himself.

The final will be held at Butlin's Minehead Resort on November 29 during the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals.

A boosted £15,000 top prize is also up for grabs, with Littler bidding to become the first player to simultaneously hold the World Youth Championship and World Championship titles.

Image: Taylor Lanning