World Grand Prix Darts: Luke Littler shows he can ‘do some damage’ with impressive start to start TV double at Leicester | Arrows News

Luke Littler believes he can “do some damage” at the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix after setting up a second-round clash with defending champion Mike De Decker in Leicester.

Littler produced an impressive display to defeat World Youth Champion Gian van Veen 2-0 In the opening match of the tournament at Mattioli Arena, he fired an average of 105.58 and finished off more than two tons during a record-breaking contest.

Van Veen posted the highest average in the history of the World Grand Prix – his 106.47 breaking the record held by Alan Wariner Little since 2001 – but could only manage two matches as Littler reached the last 16.

“We definitely get the best out of each other,” Littler said of Van Veen, who had beaten him in their previous three meetings. “Gyan played his part in a great match, but to get my first win on this stage is fantastic.

“Anything can happen in a double start, so hopefully I can perform like I did tonight (Tuesday) in the second round. I’ll be ready!”

Littler’s win avoided a repeat of last year’s first-round exit on his debut, as the world number two finished 151st during a close opening set before wrapping up a straight-set win after a thrilling 144th exit.

The 18-year-old also suffered a first-round loss in the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay Championship before winning the Phil Taylor Cup in Blackpool a year later, and Littler will be hoping history repeats itself as he bids for another television title.

“I can sure do some damage,” Littler insisted. “Obviously this performance shows that, but we’re only in the first round. We still have plenty of time to think about lifting the cup. Just take it one game at a time.

“It (the World Grand Prix) is one of the missing tournaments and it’s definitely not the easiest. Obviously the way I played there, hopefully I can come back in a few days and get the job done again.”

Regarding his desire to recover from last year’s early defeat, Littler explained: “It is clear that you have been here before, you were not the best and you want to come and prove that.

“Just like the (global) Matchplay – last year I went out in the first round, and won this year. So the same could happen – I’m not saying anything though!”

De Decker hopes to get nothing less from Littler

Littler will now face De Decker on Thursday, after the Belgian opened his title defense with a win over 2018 runner-up and two-time world champion Peter “Snakebite” Wright.

“I hope Littler doesn’t do that to me!” De Decker told reporters after the 2-1 win. “It doesn’t matter who he does it against, he’s tough to beat.”

Wright won the opening set against De Decker, who responded by smashing a 152 finish during the second before completing an impressive fight by breaking the Scot during the final deciding set.

“It was a shaky start, but I played well in the last two sets,” said De Decker, who is bidding to become the third player in World Grand Prix history to retain the double start title.

“I was very nervous in the first set, because I had never had the experience of defending a title before, but it was also a great feeling. I had goosebumps coming back here!”

Littler gets praise after impressive start

Sky Sports Wayne Mardle:

“What he did really well was when he got down to the tops, he rarely turned into a double 10. He stayed there and actually forced the tops, and then added a triple or a single – that got away with it.

“He kept getting away with the tops. He had 11 hits, two or three hat-tricks, so the scoring – once he was gone – was ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.”

“Constantly going in was like the little drip that eventually grinds someone down. In the long run, if he can keep doing this, he’ll stop for a while.”

Sky Sports John Part:

“It was a great competition and a great performance from Littler. Luke had all the answers for Van Veen and was fun to watch. He seemed to want something, whenever he needed something, he got it.

“The concentration was unbelievable, especially against an opponent who had outplayed him the last few times. You would think there might be some fear, but it wasn’t.

“To see him stand up and face the quality he faced, without really blinking and taking every opportunity he could, was fantastic and what you want to see from a rising debut. He’s world No. 2 and trying to get to No. 1 – I’m sure Luke Humphries will try to keep him down!”

Second round matches on Thursday (best of five groups)

• Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Daryl Gurney
• Johnny Clayton vs. Luke Woodhouse
• Luke Littler vs. Mike De Decker
• Gerwyn Price vs. Josh Rock

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