Luke Littler has been taking the darts world by storm in recent months and Nathan Aspinall admits many of the sport’s top players are desperate to beat the teenager.
Darts star Nathan Aspinall has admitted that the sport’s top players are all trying to thwart Luke Littler’s rapid development.
The teenage sensation shot to fame at the recent World Championships, where he was crowned Premier League champion in May, and Littler is fast becoming a contender for darts’ biggest honours, including the World Match Play, which Aspinall won last year and gets underway this weekend.
An intriguing first round match-up will see Littler take on former world champion Michael van Gerwen, while reigning champion Aspinall takes on Luke Woodhouse in the opposite draw. When asked about Littler’s impact on the sport, world number five Aspinall admitted that many top players would love to “thump the idiot out of him” and win in style against the young star.
“I wouldn’t say they’re trying to impress, but I think they just want to beat him,” Aspinall told TalkSPORT. “He’s won everything so unless we get to his level it’s just going to happen again.”
“It’s always been the same players and now Luke has won the Premier League and so I think it’s boosting our morale. We’re thinking: ‘He’s only 17, we’ve got to get him back in his rightful place’.”
“I think a lot of players feel that way. At least, I know some who feel that way. I think it helps them improve their level too.”
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‘The Aspinall’ knows all too well the grit it takes to win a major darts title after triumphing in a gruelling 35-legged final at the World Matchplay. The prestigious event, held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, boasts a huge prize fund of £800,000, with Aspinall once again aiming to walk away with the £200,000 top prize.
“It’s about emotions, not getting too ahead of yourself and not over-analysing it,” Aspinall continued. “My approach is to analyse the game in detail and because we’re playing a best-of-35 legs, I just set small targets for myself.”
“I’ll have to give it my all but I can’t wait to get back on that stage with all the great memories of last year. It’ll be fantastic to walk out there as the defending champions with Mr Brightside ringing out.”
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