- Luke Littler was pushed all the way by Ryan Joyce in their last 16 clash
- The 17-year-old will face the in-form Nathan Aspinall, who won the tie 4-0.
Luke Littler will spend New Year’s Eve “chilling” with his parents and playing on his “little Nintendo Switch”, ahead of his World Championship quarter-final match on Wednesday against his friend and stablemate, Nathan Aspinall.
The 17-year-old ended his impressive 2024 by winning a seven-set thriller against Ryan Joyce on Monday and admitted that despite having an incredible year, winning ten PDC titles, he misses the “freedom” with which he played in the Ally Pally last time. year, when he reached the final when he was 16 years old.
“I felt more comfortable last year. Nobody really knew me, I played with absolute freedom,” Littler said.
‘I’d probably say yes (I miss that freedom), but it’s also good to have nerves. In the first match against Ryan, he showed that he was human after all. Getting through that game was huge and the last two games have been huge. I have played these last games with a little freedom and that dose of adrenaline.”
Asked if he feels any jealousy of him on tour after racking up more than a million pounds in prize money in one year, Littler said: “I don’t know. Some players show it, but I saw Scott Williams’ interview on the that he was getting sponsorship opportunities because of me. It’s nice to see what I’ve done. It’s definitely not in my face, but every time I practice, I can feel that tension and I just laugh about it.’
With his fourth-round clash against Joyce level at three sets apiece, Littler delivered a spectacular final set averaging 111 to ensure he returns to the Ally Pally in 2025 and celebrated by letting out a huge roar at the end.
Luke Littler will spend New Year’s Eve “relaxing” with his parents ahead of their quarter-final tie.
Littler booked his place in the final eight after a narrow victory over Ryan Joyce on Monday.
The 17-year-old will face in-form Nathan Aspinall on Wednesday, who won the tie 4-0.
“I didn’t even realize the double 12 was there until Charlie (Corstorphine) called it and then I thought I’d give it. Just give it to me,” he said.
Littler later revealed that he was asleep on Sunday and found out at 2am via Instagram that Luke Humphries, who beat him in the final last year, was knocked out by Peter Wright.
With Humphries eliminated, Littler’s path to a second consecutive final has been opened and the tournament favorite insisted he will look to replicate the same plan as last year.
‘It would certainly do me good if I could get past Nathan. Obviously play, sleep, wake up and play again. And that’s what I like. “I prefer not to have days off because I’m not training right now, so I have to come here a little earlier and practice.”
When asked who his biggest threat is now to become the youngest world champion in history, Littler said: “All the players have to say that the biggest threat is the man in front of them. Mine is Nathan Aspinall and if The winner will be Peter Wright or whoever he plays (Stephen Bunting). But the main target is Nathan.
And Littler stressed that ahead of the all-English quarter-final, which will be played for the last time on New Year’s Day, both he and Aspinall will “keep to themselves” and not speak to each other.
On the other side of the draw, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen will face Callan Rydz and Chris Dobey will face 2021 champion Gerwyn Price, with the four quarter-finals taking place on New Year’s Day.