CASHING IN
Luke Littler three games from becoming a MILLIONAIRE as teen sensation admits he must ‘dig deep’ at Grand Slam of Darts
De Decker slammed referee Kirk Bevins after he lost to Littler
LUKE LITTLER admits he will have to “dig deep” as he closes in on becoming an oche millionaire.
The teen sensation takes on Jermaine Wattimena in the Grand Slam quarter-final in Wolverhampton tonight.
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If Littler, 17, can win three more games and take the £150,000 title on Sunday night he will have racked up over £1m in prize money since the start of the year.
But the laidback kid was counting his blessings rather than his money after escaping being KO’d by Mike De Decker in the last 16.
He trailed 8-4 before finally getting the win and revealed: “I’ve survived again and I’ve just got to focus on Saturday. Day off on Friday and come back better.
“I’ve just got to dig deep, do my stuff. Obviously all us players like the longer format because we can get into the game.
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“But I nearly left it too late against Mike. I pulled myself up and got over the line.
“I’ll just focus on Jermaine, chill out tomorrow Friday. I’ll come back Saturday better, hopefully. I just play my darts.
“Heading into the Worlds I need a good run in this, so far I’m happy. Do Saturday and Sunday, practice for the Worlds but I’d like to win this one.”
Littler looked dead and buried against De Decker, trailing 8-4.
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But somehow the wonderkid dragged himself back into the match aided by the crowd whistling and putting off the Belgian at vital points.
He added: “I’m glad that I won but I’ve got to feel for Mike. He hit everything at me when I was dropping low all the time, not finding the treble. I’m glad I got over the line.
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“A few times they were singing ‘there’s only one Luke Littler’. I couldn’t find what they wanted, that two or three treble visit.
“It’s a crazy feeling. I can’t thank them enough for tonight.
“But at 9-7 I just thought to myself, you’ve got nothing to lose now. Just try and hit back at him.
“I got one leg back and obviously the crowd were on his back even worse. I took full advantage.
“In my head I was gone. But I thought to myself just get a leg, get the darts back and we’ll see what happens.
“I’ve just had to find that extra gear and put pressure on him.
“I know myself that I can always come back but that was a bit scary. When he’s four legs clear and playing that well but I can dig deep and get over the line.”
Meanwhile, De Decker slammed referee Kirk Bevins for doing nothing to stop whistling fans.
The 28-year-old said: "I asked Kirk Bevins to address the crowd, but he wouldn’t even do that. Where is he even there then?”
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When asked if he would file a complaint to the PDC, he replied: “Filing a complaint? That won’t do anything.
"The PDC will just say they will look into it, and then that’s it. It’s sad, but that’s how it works.”
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