The roar of the crowd is building. The iconic Alexandra Palace prepares to host the world’s best dart players, and all eyes are on Luke Littler as he begins his title defense on Thursday night.
Littler’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Just a year after stunning Michael van Gerwen in a captivating World Championship final, the 18-year-old has relentlessly added to his trophy cabinet, claiming the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Players Championship Finals.
Despite his dominance, veteran Stephen Bunting isn’t intimidated. He believes the aura surrounding Littler doesn’t translate to fear on the oche, drawing on a career spent facing down legends of the sport.
Bunting recalls battles with darting giants like Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, and Luke Humphries, having defeated each of them at some point in his career. He confidently states that a potential semi-final clash with Littler wouldn’t fill him with dread.
Their recent encounters offer a glimpse into a competitive rivalry. While Littler has generally held the upper hand, Bunting has secured three victories in their nine matches since last year’s World Championship.
Bunting remembers their semi-final showdown last year, where he averaged over 100 but ultimately fell 6-1. More recently, he secured a 4-3 win against Littler in an exhibition match, averaging over 100 again, fueling his belief in his ability to conquer the young champion.
However, Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle paints a different picture, anticipating a rematch between Littler and Luke Humphries in the final. He firmly believes Littler possesses the composure to retain his title.
Mardle points to Littler’s performance in the World Grand Prix final as evidence of his ability to thrive under immense pressure, consistently winning the crucial legs when the stakes were highest. He sees Littler and Humphries as a clear tier above the rest.
As Littler prepares to face Darius Labanauskas in the opening session, the question isn’t whether he *can* win, but who will be able to withstand the pressure and challenge his reign at Alexandra Palace.
