Luke Littler emerged victorious over Rob Cross in the PDC World Darts Championship quarter-finals and expressed his frustration towards the Ally Pally crowd for booing him during the intense match.
As the defending champion, Littler managed to defeat Cross, who had strong support from fans at Ally Pally. ‘The Nuke’ voiced his discontent after facing booing from sections of the audience both on stage during the match and while giving his post-match interview to Sky Sports.
Clearly agitated, Littler addressed the crowd, stating, “Can I just say one thing. You guys purchase tickets and contribute to my winnings, so thank you for both, and thank you for the booing! I had to maintain focus; Rob broke me, I broke him back. I just glanced at the stats – my sole focus was winning. The atmosphere was hostile, with few rooting for me, but they were mistaken.”
Having not dropped a set in the tournament until facing Cross, Littler secured a 4-2 victory. His remarks stirred reactions online, with one user humorously noting, “‘I’m not rattled’ from a visibly rattled Luke Littler.”
While some criticized Littler’s response, labeling it as “classless,” others embraced the idea of him embracing a villainous persona, with one supporter commenting, “Luke Littler heel turn, I’m here for it.”
Reflecting on Littler’s statements, Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle remarked, “It was quite a peculiar interview! It seemed like he was searching for something, almost as if he was being provoked. His composure under pressure is remarkable. Rob Cross displayed great resilience despite his initial struggles. To perform at such a high level against tough opposition was truly commendable.”
Mardle further praised Littler’s ability to excel under pressure, emphasizing that his opponents can never feel secure when facing him on the dartboard.
Receive email updates with the latest news stories.