You know, this happens all the time. There will eventually come a day when genes, environment, chance and roasting combine to produce the perfect dart specimen. It’s a very simple skill and the barrier to entry is very low. Statistically speaking, there may be people who are born with a natural talent for darts like Luke Littler. All it takes is one of them realizing it.
Now that he’s 16 and in the quarterfinals of the World Championships, he’s a little happy, a little confused, but most importantly, not surprised at all. There was no suggestion in his demeanor or demeanor that he had not at some point foreseen this. Maybe not now, but then why not? After all, he always knew how good he was. He had been feeling the tactile thud of the triple bed before he could walk normally. Everyone else needs to catch up.
To be fair, they are doing that now. Several days have passed in the Littler Universe since Big Bang faced off against Christian Kist in the first round. There was an initial burst of interest. Viral tweets. Access on daytime television.He held aloft a kebab and a sun. He later apologized for a photo of him holding up a kebab and a newspaper. sun. There was subsequent backlash over the apology, which was photographed holding up a kebab and a newspaper. sun. Everything is words. All very satisfying.
Gary Anderson thinks the media has ‘ruined’ Littler and the media’s ruthless vultures should let him play. Of course, you’re welcome to question whether the best way to complain about sensational media coverage is through dramatic comments at a press conference, but in many ways, that’s a moot point. Littler has been mobbed at the Emirates Stadium and asked for Declan Rice’s autograph.this sunday times They sent their chief features writer to cover the Round of 16 game. This has already begun.
If things were going to go off the rails, you felt like tonight might be the night. Raymond van Barneveld is not just a legend of the sport, but a proud and stinging legend: enjoying this belated sunshine in a career that was mildly marketable, even if the glare was to a great extent was reflected on. He squeezed his walk-ons for everything they were worth. The crowd stood and cheered him. You remember – mostly because it’s been circulating on social media all day long – that Littler wasn’t even born when Van Barneveld beat Phil Taylor in the classic 2007 world final.
Of course, Littler wasn’t off track. The walk-on was a bit clunky, the postgame interview was awkward and charming, but in between, on that stage, he was as old as wine. Switching and cover shots are smooth and effortless. Darts are struck with authority, loyalty and grouping. He went to the big moments in the same way as Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, or perhaps still does. He won with four legs of 11, 12, 13 and 13 darts in four legs.
You can’t imagine, and I can’t imagine, the pressure of fighting this. Knowing your opponent’s cumulative pressure can beat you from almost any position, knowing that no out is safe, knowing that a lead of 100 is actually no lead at all. weakness? Of course they must exist, but you can’t find them because even he isn’t there yet. Van Barneveld played a great game. He averaged nearly 100 points per game and hit 45% in doubles. That’s world class. But he still lost 1-4.
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Now, just as Emma Raducanu finds the 2021 U.S. Open draw unfolding before her, Littler finds fortunes tilting in his direction. Anderson suffered a tough loss to Brendan Dolan, knocking out the highest remaining seed in his bracket. After Dolan on Monday, there will be either the red-hot Chris Dobie or the resurgent Rob Cross in the semi-finals. Later in the day, Luke Humphries defeated Joe Cullen in a sudden death classic to secure a quarter-final spot against Dave Chisnall (Dave Chisnall), and Van Gerwen still lurks in danger.
Any one of them could beat Littler. But to do that requires defeating not just an opponent, but a movement, deferring what feels like already being willed into existence. As if to prove the point, Littler was asked afterwards when he last lost a darts match. He doesn’t remember.
