Luke Littler keeps alive hopes of first darts major with win over Dave Chisnall at UK Open despite feeling SICK on stage
LUKE LITTLER admitted he was feeling SICK before booking his place in the quarter-finals of the UK Open.
The teen sensation revealed that he struggled in his afternoon game after skipping breakfast at the event, staged at Butlins in Minehead.
LITTLER INTO THE QUARTERS!
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Luke Littler doing Luke Littler things!
'The Nuke' averages 103.38 in a 10-5 win over Dave Chisnall.https://t.co/D7iTWZMSbj#UKOpenDarts | R6 pic.twitter.com/GtWCxcKdMi
Littler, 17, still managed to grind out two wins over Martin Schindler and Dave Chisnall despite trailing in the early stages of both matches.
Chizzy raced into an early lead but the teen showed experience beyond his years to keep composed and power ahead to seal his spot in the quarter-finals.
He said: “If everyone didn’t know before, they will know now I’m not a morning person. I think I play better in the evening.
“I did struggle earlier but managed to get over the line against Martin Schindler. After that game I chilled out and had some food.
“I just was on my phone. This morning I didn’t have breakfast so I was feeling sick because there was nothing in my stomach. So that first game was really hard to get over the line.
“Whoever comes out the hat, that’s who I am playing. I’ve just got to focus on my own game.”
Littler – who threw three 180s and an average of 103.38 against Chisnall – is now just three wins from his first major title, just over two months into his professional career.
But he played down any thoughts of glory just yet, adding: “It would be unbelievable, I’ve not even thought about it. I just take it game by game.”
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Londoner Martin Lukeman produced the shock of the sixth round by KOing former winner Gary Anderson 10-5.
Quarter-final action from Minehead takes place on Sunday – followed by the semis and final.