Luke Littler continues sparkling form as he thrashes Danny Noppert to reach last eight of Players Championship Finals
LUKE LITTLER stormed into the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals with a 10-3 win over Danny Noppert.
The Nuke, 17, breezed into the third round earlier in the day with a 6-23 victory over Ritchie Edhouse – having already beaten Rob Cross 6-0 in his opening match.
Edhouse was left applauding Littler after he hit double bullseye to complete a 120 checkout.
And it was more exhibition stuff from the teenager in the evening session as he booked a last-eight clash with Mike De Decker.
Littler won the opening two legs before Noppert pegged him back to level at 2-2.
That sparked the world championship runner-up into life as he proceeded to claim six legs on the spin to effectively put the match to bed.
Noppert pulled one back to add some respectability to the scoreline, before Littler finished it off.
Littler averaged a breathtaking 104.70 to Noppert’s 88.92.
But the supreme talent batted away talk of breaking 16-time world champion Phil Taylor’s records when asked in his post-match interview.
He said: “It’s crazy to think about trying to beat Phil Taylor’s records of 16 world titles. But I guess I’ll just have to keep going for years and years!”
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On the potential of a nine-dart finish, he added: “Every time I start any leg with a 180 they expect me to follow up.
“Tomorrow if I do get a shot it’s going to be treble 17 for double 15, so I’ll switch it up.”
Littler also took the time to speak about his next opponent, De Decker.
He said: “I’m sure it will be another great game. Obviously at the Grand Slam it was incredible to be a part of that game against Mike.
“I’ll go back now and chill out on my phone and play a bit of my Nintendo Switch. Go to bed and up early.”
Reacting to the performance, one darts fan said: “Different class to anyone right now.”
While another added: “Didn’t get out of second gear, such maturity from Littler .”
And a third said: “No contest, different class again.”
Littler has won both of his previous meetings against De Decker.
The latest of those came last week at the Grand Slam of Darts where the pair battled it out in an epic.
Littler trailed 8-4 but came roaring back to claim a 10-9 win in the last-16 clash.
He then went on to win the tournament – his first ranking title.