Luke Littler admits he had to hit 10th gear to keep alive his Ally Pally dream. The teenage superstar was given a huge scare by Ryan Joyce before clinching a last-eight clash with Nathan Aspinall. Littler was forced into a deciding set by the Geordie before surging over the line to secure a 4-3 win.
The 17-year-old had to hit the accelerator at crucial times and said: “Honestly, I think I went into 10th gear at one point and I had to. “I said to Ryan: I thought you didn’t have your power scoring with you? He hit everything at me. I broke Ryan in the first set and he hit me back.
I broke him again and it’s then 2-2. I had to dig deep. I just wanted him to miss! I had a lot of chances at the doubles while Ryan wasn’t close.
I am happy to win. I wasn’t nervous, it was adrenalin. In that last leg, just hold your own.
It shows I can hit double 12.” Littler didn’t manage didn’t manage to get a fifth nine-darter of the calendar year to set a new PDC record and smiled: “Hopefully I can start the year off strong and get a nine for everyone.” More important was sealing the date with Aspinall and he said: “Nathan and I have played plenty of times in the Premier League.
I will chill now and come back on New Year’s Day. I want to start the year off strong and get that win off Nathan.” Follow Record Sport on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
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Sports
Luke Littler admits he he had to find top gear as teen star keeps World Championship dream alive in Ally Pally thriller
The teen sensation eventually got the better of Ryan Joyce to book his place in the quarter finals