Luke Littler reveals why he won’t fist bump Van Gerwen like he did with Bunting and Aspinall at World Darts Championship
LUKE LITTLER warned there will be No More Mr Nice Guy in his World Darts Championship final against Michael van Gerwen.
The teen sensation takes on the Dutch legend tonight at Ally Pally with the world title on the line.
Luke Littler will not be fist bumping Michael van Gerwen[/caption]
Van Gerwen faces Littler in the PDC final[/caption]
Littler embracing with Stephen Bunting[/caption]
He showed similar respect to Nathan Aspinall[/caption]
Littler booked his place in the showpiece match by beating Nathan Aspinall and Stephen Bunting – two of his close friends on the circuit.
And the games were full of mutual respect, fist bumps and hand shakes – even drawing criticism from commentator Mark Webster.
But Littler said that will change by the time he faces three-time world champ Van Gerwen.
He said: “Obviously, if we win a set, we are not going to fistbump each other. But that’s what I did with Stephen and Nathan.
“We are good friends. The first set was close. I went 2-0 up, all of a sudden it’s 2-2.
“I had to hold throw, which I did. But yeah, I am so glad I went 4-0 up and I settled really well.”
“Me and Nathan after a set, we gave each other a fistbump. Me and Stephen did the same.
“When I went into the 4-0 lead I didn’t think he would do it again, then he won the set and I had to do it to him.
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“Me and Nathan and me and Stephen are really good mates. When we win a set, we do what we do.
“But as soon as the referee says ‘game on’ that is when it is game on.”
Littler burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old prodigy in last year’s tournament but lost in the final to Luke Humphries.
And Van Gerwen – who beat Chris Dobey 6-1 in his semi-final – vowed to inflict another painful defeat on Britain’s superstar.
He said: “Luke’s had a sniff [of the title]. I’m going to make sure he keeps by a sniff as well.
“He’s got years! I think with his capability I will be surprised if he doesn’t beat it.
“But I don’t look at stats. People say ‘are you going to beat Phil Taylor’s stats’. I don’t care.
“It’s about what you do now and whoever is in your path, you face it.”
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