Luke Littler has quickly become one of the most talked-about players in the world of darts, and his rise to the top of the sport has left many pundits and players alike taking notice. As the 17-year-old sensation continues his impressive run in the Grand Slam of Darts, the chatter around his potential to dominate the tournament has only intensified. According to Sky Sports darts pundit Mark Webster, if Littler can make it through his last-16 clash against Mike De Decker, no one will be able to stop him from going all the way and winning the event.
Littler, known by the nickname ‘The Nuke,’ has been one of the standout performers in this year’s tournament, finishing the group stage undefeated. His stellar form has set him up for a mouth-watering encounter against De Decker in Wolverhampton, where the winner will advance to the quarter-finals. But Littler’s progress hasn’t come without a fair share of high-profile exits, with the top three darts players in the world rankings—Luke Humphries, Michael Smith, and Michael van Gerwen—all making early exits.
These surprise eliminations have created an opening for Littler, who has already established himself as the tournament favourite, especially after breezing through the group stages with ease. Webster, a three-time Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finalist, believes that Littler’s path to the title could be secured if he makes it past De Decker. In an interview with Sky Sports, Webster expressed his confidence in Littler’s abilities and noted that this is the final opportunity for any of his competitors to stop him before he builds even more momentum in the tournament.
“I wasn’t concerned about Littler coming into the tournament,” Webster admitted. “He’s had a few setbacks in the past, but he’s been brilliant this year. He breezed through the group stage. I stand by what I said about Littler and Humphries. If you’re going to get them out, you’ve got to get them early. If you don’t get Luke Littler in this round, I don’t think you do, and I think he goes on to win the event.”
For Littler, the last-16 clash against De Decker is crucial. The 17-year-old must overcome the newly-crowned World Grand Prix champion to keep his Grand Slam dream alive. De Decker, who has been in fine form, will not make it easy for Littler, but many believe that the young star’s composure and consistency could be the difference in this match.
The last-16 stage of the tournament has already proven to be a thrilling affair, with several exciting matches taking place. On Wednesday night, plumber Cameron Menzies pulled off a stunning 10-9 win over James Wade to book his spot in the quarter-finals. Rob Cross, Martin Lukeman, and Michael Mansell also secured their places in the next round, advancing with impressive performances.
As the second round of matches resumed on Thursday, all eyes were on Littler, who was preparing to take to the stage for his match against De Decker. Alongside him, Stephen Bunting was set to face off against Gary Anderson in what promised to be another intriguing battle. With so many big names already out of the tournament, the stage was set for Littler to cement his place as one of the tournament’s most dangerous players.
Wayne Mardle, another former darts star, has also praised Littler’s meteoric rise, highlighting that this is the teenager’s first year on the PDC professional tour. Despite his lack of experience at this level, Littler has already made his mark, finding himself inside the top 16 and showing that he is more than capable of competing with some of the biggest names in the sport. Mardle echoed Mark Webster’s sentiments about Littler’s potential, adding that the young star’s mentality and toughness on the oche make him a serious contender for the title.
“Mark is right to say he can be the champion come cup collection day because he’s such a tough man to beat,” Mardle said. “It’s Littler’s first year on the PDC professional tour, and he’s already inside the top 16. There is a lot to like about his game.”
Despite his incredible form, Littler has been unable to make history with a nine-darter at the Grand Slam of Darts, a feat that many players dream of achieving. While Littler may have missed out on the historic moment, his performances in other areas have more than made up for it, as he continues to show the consistency and poise required to compete at the highest level.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Littler to see if he can continue his journey to glory. Should he defeat De Decker and make it into the quarter-finals, it will only add to the growing belief that he could very well go all the way and lift the prestigious Grand Slam of Darts trophy. However, the tournament is still very much wide open, and while Littler may be the favourite, there are plenty of talented players still in contention who will be eager to stop him in his tracks.
Littler’s rapid rise in the darts world has been nothing short of remarkable, and his performance at the Grand Slam of Darts has only solidified his place as one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects. The tournament’s outcome will be crucial in shaping his career, as a strong showing here could catapult him into the upper echelons of darts, where he will be seen as a legitimate challenger for major titles in the years to come.
With his impressive consistency, impressive performances, and an iron-clad mentality, it’s no surprise that many believe Littler is the man to beat in this year’s Grand Slam of Darts. As the teenager continues to shine on the big stage, his journey is one to watch, and the possibility of him winning this event would be a fitting culmination to what has already been a breakthrough year for the young star. Whether or not he can make it through the tough test of De Decker in the last 16 will be a major turning point, but if he passes it, there may be no stopping him as he looks to take his place among the elite in darts.