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Luke Littler admits he “didn’t expect” the crowd to turn against him during his win over Rob Cross, but he doesn’t regret his post-fight comments to the Alexandra Palace crowd.
The world number one is seeking to become the first back-to-back Sid Waddell Trophy winner since Gary Anderson a decade ago. Defeated former world champion Rob Cross 4-2 Reaching the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, he will face Krzysztof Ratajski on New Year’s Day.
Littler posted a 106.58 average and 17 perfect scores in an engaging and intense battle, with the defending champion looking restless at various points as “Voltage” fought back from 3-1 down to nearly send the match to the final set, much to the support of the raucous crowd.
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Luke Littler had some harsh words for some Alexandra Palace fans after victory over Rob Cross
After his win, Littler turned to the crowd and said, “Am I bothered? Really, am I bothered?! Not really!
“Can I say one thing? You paid for the tickets and you paid for my winnings, so thank you, thank you for the money! Thank you for booing me. Thank you – come on!”
The outburst brought more attention to The Nuke, but he says he has no regrets about it, instead describing the reaction as something he’s never experienced with fans on this stage.
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Luke Littler responds to ‘hostile’ crowd he faced during World Darts Championship match against Rob Cross
“It’s a big moment for them going into New Year’s Day, but I’ll be ready for anybody,” Littler said an hour into the game.
“It’s definitely a task that I’m not ready for. This is the World Championship – whether they want the underdog to win, whether they want the game to last longer, who knows? I’ve just done my job.
“It’s just pure emotion, I said what I said and the fans, I would have said this at some point last year, but the fans, they paid for the tickets, almost they paid for our prize money, so yeah, I don’t regret anything.
“I think nine times out of 10, I was always going to be the favorite, I didn’t expect that, I didn’t expect the fans to want Rob to win, but I can learn from that.”
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Rob Cross lifts world number one, but Luke Littler clings to quarter-final spot
Does Littler feel like he can turn things around when the Arrows restart in 2026? He hopes so, but all he can do is play his best darts and continue to show how much he has “grown”.
“I don’t know, not really, it’s just about giving it your all and winning,” he added.
“I think obviously there were times where I said it out at the end and I thought that was the best thing to do.
World Darts Championship quarter-final draw results at a glance
“I know I can throw a dart or two but it just goes to show how much I’ve grown myself. I’ve never experienced anything like it on the Ally Pally stage and we’ll do it again.
“Obviously it gives you huge confidence to go through matches like this where you know you might miss a dart or two but it’s the best to get through these matches.
“The fans are behind you, not in front of you, and you have a dartboard in front of you and that’s what you have to do.”
Durant: The booing is part of the pantomime
Sky Sports Darts’ Glenn Durant…
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Glenn Durant and Laura Turner discuss Luke Littler’s furious reaction to Elle Paley crowd booing during clash with Rob Cross
“First of all, I’m surprised. The resurgence of darts over the past few years has been closely linked to the success of Luke Littler.
“I’m old enough and wise enough to remember Phil Taylor’s days and Michael van Gerwen’s incredible numbers, but we’ve never seen the darts in a better place, and the way the crowd flipped…
“He’s 18 and sometimes we forget these things because he gives the impression of being a champion.
“I’m a firm believer in learning lessons. Going back to my day job, my motto is, ‘We all make mistakes, don’t make them again.'”
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Emma Paton and John Pat look ahead to quarter-finals of four World Darts Championships
“The boos and whistles have become part of the pantomime of darts. As a player you can deal with the boos, you can deal with the whistles.
“Darts is having a renaissance and a lot of that has to do with Luke Littler. You have to remember, he’s only 18. They’re not media trained and then you get asked a question.”
What to do next?
The World Darts Championship returns for the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day, with Jonny Clayton opening against Ryan Searle, the only player not to drop a set in the tournament, before Gary Anderson takes on Justin Hood.
Luke Humphries vs. Gian van Veen rounded out the evening, with Littler taking on Ratajski as he continues his quest for back-to-back world titles.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Until January 3, you can watch every match live exclusively on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky Channel 407). Live stream darts and more top sports with NOW.
