NUKE EDGES OUT WRIGHT IN A CLASSIC

By Phil Lanning

LUKE LITTLER admitted he “fell asleep” before edging out Peter Wright in a UK Open classic. 

The teen sensation kept his nerve to win a last leg decider 10-9 win in Minehead. 

Vintage Wrighty, having played so brilliantly with six 180s, flunked the last leg and The Nuke snatched a 10-9 win, delivering a powerhouse 108.69 average. 

Littler said: “It was a stunning game, Peter and I were on it from the start. 

“I fell asleep a few times during the match, I’d win a few and lose a few. 

“But I had to try and come back with Peter having the darts, so I had to get the break of throw. 

“It’s always good getting off to the two or three nil starts. But as a dart player that’s not always going to happen. 

“But I had to come back a few times and that’s what I did to win. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Peter throw a dart. But we all know Peter Wright two-time World Champion, we know what he’s capable of. It’s good to see him playing his best stuff. 

“As soon as Peter gets that first ton-plus he’s near enough hitting all of them which he did against me there.

“But I just had to get the power scoring going and hit the doubles. 

“I’m usually very good at a last leg decider. I always back myself. But when you’ve not got the darts, Peter got off to a ton. I just thought you’ve got to try and pile as much pressure on as I can with 140, 57 and 134 to leave 170. I was never going for the 170!

“It Peter Wright was on a 164 or 167 finish, I have the right to go for it. 

“When he’s not on a double I have to set the shot up.”

Wright came from 2-0 down and a tops finish put him in front at the first break.

But Littler came storming back to win four out of the next five legs to lead 6-4. However Snakebite was in the clash, missing three bull finishes at that stage. 

Then three wonderful finishes of 104, 122 and 116 finishes swept Wright back into the match. 

But Littler stormed to the front with back-to-back legs including a slick 100 finish in two darts.

Then Wright held his nerve with two brilliant finishes to force a decider at 9-9. But Snakey had a shaky last leg and Littler hit tops to win it. 

It was a horror show for Gary Anderson as he crashed out 10-3 to Jonny Clayton.

Ando busted his score going for a finish and then miscounted hitting a checkout in what turned out to the final leg. 

He only won three legs despite a 100.07 average while Clayton delivered a 121 finish and hit 10 out of 16 doubles. 

Image by Taylor Lanning.