02 January 2024 , 21:48
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Luke Littler struggled to speak after his stunning 6-2 success against former champion Rob Cross before revealing he will prepare for the final with a ham and cheese omelette.
For the first time, the 16-year-old lost the first leg before racing into a 3-1 lead in front of a buoyant Alexandra Palace. Cross reduced his set deficit to one but Littler responded by claiming the subsequent pair to leave him on the verge of a final place.
He rounded off the clash with a sensational final leg to leave Cross floored- the pair sharing an embrace come the end of the thrilling tie. Speaking after his win, Littler said: "No words! It's crazy. Crazy to think I'm in a World Championship final in my debut. I was happy winning one game but I could go all the way!
"You're playing Rob, he's a world champion and won on debut, same as me. I've got no words Rob told me 'God bless, respect and step away, do it'."
Asked what he wanted to achieve heading into the tournament, the youngster revealed that he had no other ambition than getting beyond the first round. "Just getting beyond my first game," he replied. "I knew I was even spending more time in London to play Andrew the next day. My next target was to spend time with family over Christmas, which I did, and come back and now I'm in the final."
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"I've just settled on the stage," Littler added when asked where his blistering form has come from. "It took me a few legs to settle in the game and once I found that rhythm then I'm good to go!"
Luke Littler celebrates during his victory against Rob Cross (Getty Images)Will Luke Littler win the PDC World Championship? Share your predictions in the comments below
He was then told how his averages compare to the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld in semi-finals, yet more statistics that left him speechless. "Crazy to even think about them big names." he responded.
His win has also carried him to the top 32 in the world darts rankings, something that he was delighted to learn. Littler said: "Crazy, like you've said, there's no more development for myself. I'm just happy to be in the top 32 and I can go even higher."
Attention now turns to Wednesday's final. Revealing what he will be doling before his upcoming final appearance, he added: "I've just got to stay focused throughout the game, no matter how long it goes on for. I'll do what I've been doing. In the morning, go for a ham and cheese omelette, then come here have a pizza and then practice! That's what I've done every day."
Littler will take on either Luke Humphries or Scott Williams in the final, where he will aim to become the youngest-ever player to win the PDC World Championship.