Luke Littler has guaranteed £100,000 waiting for him as darts star targets unique achievement
Luke Littler booked his place in the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship – and made himself at least £100,000 richer in the process. But that’s simply not enough for ‘The Nuke’, who’s eyeing two more victories to claim darts’ ultimate prize, and he also wants to make an achievement that will give him a tidy £60,000 cash injection. Littler is two wins away from going one better than he managed at last year’s tournamentGetty The 17-year-old sealed his place in the last four at Alexandra Palace with a 5-2 triumph over Nathan Aspinall in a high-spirited clash on Wednesday. Littler kept his dangerous opponent at arm’s length throughout having raced to a 2-0 lead before Aspinall pulled a set back. The next two sets went to Littler, who went on to seal the comfortable triumph with a clash against eighth seed Stephen Bunting awaiting on Thursday night. Bunting has endeared himself to fans at Alexandra Palace with his legendary walk-ons and stunning darts, with the Liverpudlian claiming the scalp of Peter Wright in the quarter-finals while also making light work of his previous three opponents at the tournament. But Littler has no issue ending the Bunting Mental Mania as he eyes his 11th darts title and first at Ally Pally. On his showdown with Bunting, Littler told talkSPORT: “He played very good [against Wright]. “In the back room there are a few tellies so you can’t miss it really. “I’m looking to get to back-to-back finals in two tournaments and Stephen’s looking at his first.” Littler is also eyeing a nine-dart finish, something that’s only been achieved on 17 occasions in the tournament’s history. It’s been done twice at this year’s World Championship with Australian Damon Heta and Dutchman Christian Kist managing it. Aspinall had no answers for Littler’s brilliance on Wednesday nightGetty Littler has established himself as one of the best players in the sportGetty His next opponent is a new kind of test as he goes up against People’s Champion BuntingGetty There’s an added incentive to achieve a nine-darter this year with player’s banking an extra £60,000, as will a fan in attendance at Ally Pally while another £60k will be sent to men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK. And Littler, who achieved a nine-darter in the Premier League final last May, is confident he can do it again in his semi-final clash. When asked if he’s going to get the nine-darter, he said: “Hopefully. Obviously you’ve seen I went back-to-back at one point. “I’ve started the legs off with 180 many times and then got sloppy 56, 57. “But when you’re in the mood and you know how well you’re playing, I’m sure it might come tomorrow.” Littler burst onto the scene at last year’s tournament having made it all the way to the final in a fairy tale run at the age of just 16 years old. PDC World Darts Championship prize money Winner – £500,000 Runner-up – £200k Semi-final – £100k Quarter-final – £50k Fourth round – £35k Third round – £25k Second round – £15k First round – £7.5k Total prize money – £2.5million However, he was beaten by Luke Humphries in the final – losing 7-4. But with the world No.1 now out of the tournament, Littler’s path to glory has been given a major boost. PDC World Championship Offer talkSPORT BET Offer: Bet £10 on the Darts and get £30 in free bets CLAIM HERE 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in, bet £10+ on any darts at odds of 2.00+ within 7 days. Get 3 x £10 in Free Bets for set markets which expire in 7 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Luke Littler booked his place in the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship – and made himself at least £100,000 richer in the process.
But that’s simply not enough for ‘The Nuke’, who’s eyeing two more victories to claim darts’ ultimate prize, and he also wants to make an achievement that will give him a tidy £60,000 cash injection.
The 17-year-old sealed his place in the last four at Alexandra Palace with a 5-2 triumph over Nathan Aspinall in a high-spirited clash on Wednesday.
Littler kept his dangerous opponent at arm’s length throughout having raced to a 2-0 lead before Aspinall pulled a set back.
The next two sets went to Littler, who went on to seal the comfortable triumph with a clash against eighth seed Stephen Bunting awaiting on Thursday night.
Bunting has endeared himself to fans at Alexandra Palace with his legendary walk-ons and stunning darts, with the Liverpudlian claiming the scalp of Peter Wright in the quarter-finals while also making light work of his previous three opponents at the tournament.
But Littler has no issue ending the Bunting Mental Mania as he eyes his 11th darts title and first at Ally Pally.
On his showdown with Bunting, Littler told talkSPORT: “He played very good [against Wright].
“In the back room there are a few tellies so you can’t miss it really.
“I’m looking to get to back-to-back finals in two tournaments and Stephen’s looking at his first.”
Littler is also eyeing a nine-dart finish, something that’s only been achieved on 17 occasions in the tournament’s history.
It’s been done twice at this year’s World Championship with Australian Damon Heta and Dutchman Christian Kist managing it.
There’s an added incentive to achieve a nine-darter this year with player’s banking an extra £60,000, as will a fan in attendance at Ally Pally while another £60k will be sent to men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK.
And Littler, who achieved a nine-darter in the Premier League final last May, is confident he can do it again in his semi-final clash.
When asked if he’s going to get the nine-darter, he said: “Hopefully. Obviously you’ve seen I went back-to-back at one point.
“I’ve started the legs off with 180 many times and then got sloppy 56, 57.
“But when you’re in the mood and you know how well you’re playing, I’m sure it might come tomorrow.”
Littler burst onto the scene at last year’s tournament having made it all the way to the final in a fairy tale run at the age of just 16 years old.
PDC World Darts Championship prize money
- Winner – £500,000
- Runner-up – £200k
- Semi-final – £100k
- Quarter-final – £50k
- Fourth round – £35k
- Third round – £25k
- Second round – £15k
- First round – £7.5k
- Total prize money – £2.5million
However, he was beaten by Luke Humphries in the final – losing 7-4.
But with the world No.1 now out of the tournament, Littler’s path to glory has been given a major boost.
PDC World Championship Offer
talkSPORT BET Offer: Bet £10 on the Darts and get £30 in free bets
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in, bet £10+ on any darts at odds of 2.00+ within 7 days. Get 3 x £10 in Free Bets for set markets which expire in 7 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
