Luke Littler says he’s anticipating “fireworks” when he takes on Josh Rock within the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.
The final time Littler and Rock met in a significant was a particular semi-final on the World Matchplay when ‘The Nuke’ fired in a spectacular nine-darter on the best way to a unprecedented 17-14 victory, combating again and rattling off 10 legs in a row.
Regardless of Rock not being at his greatest in his final 16 win over Connor Scutt, Littler is primed for Rock to be again to his greatest once they conflict as soon as once more.
Whereas he will get on with the Northern Irishman off the oche, he is aware of they need to be “enemies” as soon as once more on the large stage if he’s going to maintain his title defence going alongside his quest for world No 1.
“Yes, 100 per cent (there will be fireworks),” Littler mentioned.
“Clearly, Josh performed nowhere close to his greatest. 89 common, that is not Josh. However, clearly, if he sees that, he’ll completely kick himself and he is obtained to be up for it.
“As a result of I am at all times up for a superb sport, particularly Josh, and hopefully I can go right into a 5-0 lead and never 5-0 just like the match play.
“I feel nobody is mates on stage and also you’re by yourself up there. You have to do your job. However backstage we’ll at all times chat, we’ll at all times have fun. However as soon as we’re on stage then we’re enemies and we have got to do our job.
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Highlights of Luke Littler in opposition to Josh Rock within the semi-final of the World Matchplay.
“Josh has been on Tour longer than me, but we’ve always had a relationship as mates. Now he’s joined Target and I’m with Target, so it makes it all very easy.
“We’re all Goal gamers and we’re all in the identical competitions. We’re at all times going to speak to one another. It is simply good. However as soon as we’re on stage, we’re enemies.
“It’s going to be another great battle. Like I said, he didn’t play his best, but I am sure Josh will be back.
“He had an 89 common, he’ll simply put one other 10, 15 factors on that common in opposition to me and I’ve obtained to anticipate it coming.”
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A comparability between Luke Littler’s good leg and the classic nine-darter made my Michael Smith within the 2023 World Darts Championship.
On that quest for world No 1? Catch me should you can!
Littler now is aware of that simply reserving a spot within the remaining of the Grand Slam would safe him the world No 1 spot that he has been chasing, seeing him usurp Luke Humphries.
Littler admits he has his sights set on “absolutely everything” with nobody singular goal motivating him.
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Luke Littler says he has his eyes set on Grand Slam victory and the world primary after victory over Wessel Nijman.
“If someone plays their best darts, they might catch me but tonight felt very good. I have my eyes on everything, the title, world No 1,” Littler added.
“I know if I get to the final I’ll be world No 1, so I’m taking it game by game and hopefully Josh and I can have another good game like the Matchplay.”
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