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 match.
As the defending champion, Littler faced Cross, who had strong support from the fans at Ally Pally. ‘The Nuke’ voiced his discontent after being booed by some sections of the audience both during the game and while giving his post-match interview on Sky Sports.
Clearly irritated, Littler addressed the crowd, stating, “Can I just say one thing. You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me! I just had to hold, Rob broke me, I broke him back.”
“I just saw the stats then – I wasn’t thinking of anything- I just wanted to win. It was hostile, no one wanted me to win. They were wrong.”
“It is not in reach just yet, you have got to get to the final.”
Littler had maintained a perfect record in the championships until facing Cross, eventually winning 4-2. His remarks sparked reactions from online fans, with one remarking, “‘I’m not rattled’ from a visibly rattled Luke Littler.”
Another individual shared, “Luke Littler is completely rattled. He knows what a darts crowd is like, he knows its pantomime. That comment about paying his prize money was classless IMO.”
However, some supporters embraced Littler’s shift towards a more antagonistic persona, with one saying, “Luke Littler heel turn I’m here for it.”
Following Littler’s comments, Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle commented, “It was a peculiar interview! It seemed like he was searching for something, like he was being provoked. It showcases how effortlessly he handles the game. He just kept at it, and credit to Rob Cross.”
“It would have been easier for him to succumb, but he just kept improving. Rob was out of form, yet he performed exceptionally well against the odds. It was an outstanding game.”
“Luke exhibits exceptional composure under pressure. There’s nothing he can’t accomplish on the board, and no situation is secure for his opponents. You are never safe.”
“Littler is reaching a level where he is unbeatable.”