Luke Littler has been a sensation for the world of darts – but he also presents challenges for the sport’s referees.
The Nuke is a hot favourite for the Paddy Power World Championship and he will press on with his campaign at Ally Pally tonight when he takes on seasoned player Ian White in the third round. He earned the showdown following his dynamic finish in the second-round win over Ryan Meikle, Littler is expected to be brimming with confidence.
The teen sensation posted an astonishing 140 average in the final set and was tantalisingly close to achieving a nine-dart finish, continuing the explosive form that has marked him out as a standout talent in the darting world throughout the past year.
His unique finishing routines during this period have proven a test for both referees and spotters (who direct the cameras during matches). Before the tournament, Huw Ware, serving as one of the officials at the World Championship, shared insights into officiating a Littler game. The Mirror reports: “It’s the players that play more on instinct [who are most difficult], they don’t necessarily have a set way of going.
“I don’t think there’s a game that goes by where Luke Littler doesn’t throw me at least once. A lot of what he does makes total sense but it’s maybe a bit different from the last time he went for that shot, or it’s something different to what I was expecting him to do. Those that play more off the cuff..”
Ware has observed that some darts players have more predictable finishing routines. He added: “Someone like Gerwyn Price has a very set way of going. I know, pretty much before he throws the dart, where it’s aiming for so I can prepare myself for that mentally on the maths side of things.”
“But someone like Michael Smith or Luke Littler may go for 62 [via] treble 14, double 10, one shot. Then, five minutes later, they’ll go treble 18, double four. It’s that kind of player, the player where you can’t go down one line of thinking most of the time. They are the most difficult ones to call for.”