Darts commentator Rodd Studd slammed Luke Littler for his ‘petulant’ act during his Players Championship semi-final clash with Alan Soutar. Littler had gotten off to a torrid start against the Scot, losing the first two legs.
But a spirited comeback brought him within touching distance of equalling the scores in the tenth set. Littler needed 25 to win it and hit five with his first dart so a double ten was required.
However, his second dart sailed wide of his intended target and landed on 15. Venting his frustrations, a livid Littler then aimlessly chucked his third and missed the board entirely throwing away the opportunity to bust.
“Tell you what, well, that’s petulant,” said Studd. “Now he’s left himself five, with a bit more care and attention he could’ve bust if that’s what he wanted to do, or left himself a double. He’s done neither of those things and that was silly.
“We’ve spent so much time saying he’s not playing like a 17-year-old but that was something you’d expect about a 12-year-old to do. He’s going to have to get used to criticism if he does things like that.
“It might not matter, it won’t matter if he finishes off here, but that was daft from Luke Littler.” In the end, it didn’t matter as Littler returned to win the leg and subsequently the match by a tight margin of 8-7.
Littler then progressed to the final later that afternoon where he beat Ryan Searle by the same score to scoop his first-ever PDC ranking title and the winners’ jackpot of £15,000. He averaged 110 and notched seven 180s against Searle.
Speaking after his triumph, Littler said: “I know my game is there, I know I can beat anyone, and I’m really happy to have won. Me and my manager know what I have to do to qualify for the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix.
“I want to try and qualify for everything, and I’ve just got to play my game. I’m taking it in my stride. It takes huge pressure off me, and now hopefully I can settle and enjoy it.” Littler now will move into the top 30 on the PDC’s Order of Merit having previously won the Bahrain Masters and reached the final of the Dutch Masters earlier this season. He becomes the youngest player to have achieved the feat in the history of the sport.
