Luke Littler has admitted he lost his head during his fourth-round PDC World Darts Championship win over Rob Cross, after being booed and jeered by the crowd at Alexandra Palace. The 18-year-old defending champion beat Cross 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals, but reacted emotionally to the hostile atmosphere, running around the stage and gesturing to fans who had backed his opponent.
In his on-stage interview, Littler told the crowd: 'You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money, so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me.' Reflecting on the incident, he said: 'I think I lost [my head], it's still on there. Two years ago I think I would have started throwing my darts left-handed, but that is how much I have grown, how much I have matured.'
Littler acknowledged he still has lessons to learn in dealing with crowds. 'People might say I have not matured, but try and be in my position. I can still learn a lot. I can learn how to deal with the crowd, not let as much emotion out, just keep it all in me until that final dart,' he said. 'That's the first time I've been at the world championships and the crowd have not wanted me to win. I will expect the worst on New Year's Day and whatever happens will happen.'
Despite the distraction, Littler produced a champion-like performance, averaging 106.5 and hitting 17 180s. 'It definitely fuelled me up and it made me play better,' he added. 'I am only a few games away from lifting the trophy once again but the performance really doesn't feel like a 106.5, because there was that much adrenaline going through me, that much emotion, the anger. I am glad I won.'
Littler will face Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski in the quarter-finals on Thursday, after Ratajski beat Luke Woodhouse 4-2.
