Luke Littler believes he can ‘do some injury’ on the Boyle Sports activities World Grand Prix after establishing a second-round showdown with defending champion Mike De Decker in Leicester.
Littler produced a sensational show to beat world youth champion Gian van Veen 2-0 in his event opener on the Mattioli Enviornment, the place he fired a 105.58 common and two ton-plus finishes throughout a record-breaking contest.
Van Veen registered the best common in World Grand Prix historical past – along with his 106.47 breaking the report held by Alan Warriner-Little since 2001 – however may solely handle two legs as Littler raced into the final 16.
“We definitely bring the best out of each other,” Littler mentioned about Van Veen, who had crushed him of their earlier three conferences. “Gian played his part in a brilliant game, but to get my first win on this stage feels amazing.
“Something can occur in double-start, so hopefully I can carry out like I did tonight [Tuesday] in spherical two. I will be prepared!”
Littler’s victory averted a repeat of final 12 months’s first-round exit on debut, with the world No 2 firing a 151 end throughout a decent opening set earlier than closing out a straight-sets win with a sensational 144 checkout.
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Luke Littler completed off a sensational show by hitting an excellent 144 to knock out Gian van Veen in Leicester
The 18-year-old additionally suffered a first-round loss within the 2024 Betfred World Matchplay earlier than successful the Phil Taylor Trophy in Blackpool a 12 months later, with Littler hoping historical past can repeat itself as he chases one other TV title.
“I can definitely do some damage,” Littler insisted. “Obviously that performance shows it, but it’s still only round one. We’ve still got plenty of time to go to be thinking of lifting the trophy. Just take it game by game.
“It [World Grand Prix] is among the ones that is lacking and it is undoubtedly not the simplest. Clearly the best way I’ve performed there, hopefully I can come again in just a few days and get the job achieved once more.”
Both Littler or De Decker will face Gerwyn Worth or Josh Rock in Friday’s quarter finals
On eager to bounce again from final 12 months’s early defeat, Littler defined: “Obviously you’ve been here before, it’s not been the best and you want to come and prove it.
“Similar to the [World] Matchplay – went out final 12 months in spherical one, this 12 months gained it. So the identical may occur – I am not saying something although!”
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Highlights from the World Matchplay last in July, the place Luke Littler claimed a formidable victory in opposition to James Wade in Blackpool
De Decker hopes for much less from Littler
Littler will now tackle De Decker on Thursday, after the Belgian opened his title defence with a comeback victory in opposition to 2018 runner-up and two-time world champion Peter “Snakebite” Wright.
“I hope he [Littler] doesn’t do it against me!” De Decker instructed reporters after his 2-1 win. “It doesn’t matter who he does it against, it’s hard to beat.”
Wright gained the opening set in opposition to De Decker, who responded by crashing in a 152 end in the course of the second earlier than finishing a formidable fightback by breaking the Scot throughout a final-set decider.
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Peter Wright applauded Mike De Decker’s gorgeous 152 checkout in the course of the second set of their first-round conflict in Leicester
“It was a shaky start, but I played well in the final two sets,” mentioned De Decker, bidding to grow to be the third participant in World Grand Prix historical past to retain the double-start crown.
“I was really nervous in the first set, because I’ve never had the experience of defending a title before, but it was also a nice feeling. I had goosebumps coming back here!”
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Highlights of the 2024 World Grand Prix last, the place Mike de Decker held off Luke Humphries to safe a maiden TV main
Littler takes plaudits after spectacular begin
Sky Sports activities’ Wayne Mardle:
“What he did really well was when he went below on the tops, he seldom switched to the double 10. He stayed there and actually forced one into the tops, then added a treble or a single – that’s getting away.
“He simply stored getting away with the tops. He hit 11 two or three-treble visits, so the scoring – as soon as he obtained away – was ridiculous, totally ridiculous.
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Sky Sports activities’ Polly James and Glen Durrant focus on Luke Littler’s resolution to separate from his administration
“That getting in constantly was the little drip, drip that grinds someone down eventually. Over the longer format, if he can keep doing that, he’s going to take some stopping.”
Sky Sports activities’ John Half:
“It was a wonderful contest and a brilliant performance from Littler. Luke had every answer for Van Veen and it was just a treat to watch. He just seemingly at will, whenever he needed something, he got it.
The numbers behind Luke Littler’s spectacular win over Gian van Veen
“The focus was unbelievable, especially against an opponent that had the better of him the last few times. You’d think there may be some trepidation in there, but there wasn’t.
“To see him rise up and face the standard he confronted, with out actually blinking and taking each likelihood he may, was improbable and what you need to see from a rising begin. He is world No 2 and making an attempt to get to No 1 – I am positive Luke Humphries will probably be making an attempt to maintain him down!”
Thursday’s second-round fixtures (Finest of 5 units)
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Daryl Gurney
- Jonny Clayton vs Luke Woodhouse
- Luke Littler vs Mike De Decker
- Gerwyn Worth vs Josh Rock
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