Darts prodigy Luke Littler masterfully turned a potentially hostile Alexandra Palace crowd into a chorus of cheers with a dominant 5-0 quarter-final victory over Krzysztof Ratajski on Thursday night. This commanding performance came just two days after the reigning world champion was roundly booed during his win against Rob Cross.
From jeers to cheers: A crowd won over
Entering the stage to a mixed reception following Tuesday's controversy, Littler wasted no time in silencing any remaining doubters. In a blistering 33-minute display, he transformed the atmosphere, delivering a princely exhibition of power scoring and clinical finishing. The 17-year-old later admitted he deliberately applauded all sides of the arena to win back support, a tactic that clearly paid dividends as the 'Ally Pally' multitudes were firmly behind him by the match's conclusion.
The tone was set from the very first set, which Littler clinched with a spectacular 170 checkout in the deciding leg. From there, the match became a one-sided procession. Littler averaged over 100, hit 15 of his 27 attempts at doubles, and sealed 15 legs to Ratajski's five. The Polish world number 37, who has enjoyed a resurgent tournament after career-saving brain surgery, was simply outgunned, converting only 23% of his own double opportunities.
An ominous warning despite 'rusty' feeling
In a post-match interview that will send shivers down the spines of his remaining rivals, Littler revealed he felt far from his best. "When I was 2-0 up I didn't feel good," he confessed. "It didn't feel comfortable... Just not practising for two days, being a bit lazy. I've not brought a dartboard down, so I can't really practise."
The fact that he could produce such a comprehensive victory while feeling sub-par underscores the staggering depth of his raw talent. Highlights of his performance included a breathtaking 128 finish on the bullseye and a run of six perfect darts in the third set, which brought the auditorium to its feet. Ratajski's only genuine chance came when he missed two darts at double-8 to potentially reduce the deficit to 3-1, but that fleeting moment of jeopardy was swiftly extinguished.
Searle awaits in semi-final showdown
Littler's path to a potential second consecutive world title now goes through Ryan Searle in Friday's semi-final. The man nicknamed 'Heavy Metal' presents a significant new challenge, having found a formidable new level in this tournament. Searle swept past Jonny Clayton 5-2 in his quarter-final and is playing with a palpable force and confidence.
Littler holds a perfect 5-0 record in previous meetings with Searle, but acknowledges the semi-final will be different. "If Krzysztof had pushed me more, it would have set me up even better for tomorrow," Littler said. "But a win's a win. Obviously I want it to be one-sided again, but if Ryan does test me I'm up for it."
In the other half of the draw, Dutch sensation Gian van Veen produced a stunning upset, demolishing former world champion and world number two Luke Humphries 5-1. Averaging 105.4 and hitting 55% of his doubles, Van Veen's victory books his first World Championship semi-final, guarantees him a Premier League spot for next year, and sets up a clash with the experienced Gary Anderson.
