LUKE LITTLER revealed he is set to change tactics at the Players Championship Finals.
The 17-year-old smashed Danny Noppert 10-3 yesterday to set up a clash against Mike De Decker today.
In his victory over the Dutchman, Littler twice landed six perfect darts but fell short of the nine-darter on his seventh throw.
He was ironically jeered by the crowd at Butlin’s Minehead when he was left visibly frustrated by his failed attempts.
Asked if the nine-darter was getting closer, The Nuke revealed he would be changing tactic to secure it.
Littler said: “Every time I start any leg with a 180 they expect me to follow up.
“If I do get a shot it’s going to be treble 17 for double 15, so I’ll switch it up.”
Littler is no stranger to changing his checkout routes, brilliantly landing a 20 and two bullseyes to seal a leg from 120 in showbiz fashion against Ritchie Edhouse yesterday.
On how he trains for his big finishes, the teen sensation revealed: “I don’t really play online but when I play against the computer bot I put it up to 105, 110 averages to see if I can win.”
Littler’s incredible rise this year has seen be dubbed the “next Phil Taylor”.
But he is not getting carried away with the comparisons, adding: “It’s crazy to think about trying to beat Phil Taylor’s records of 16 world titles.
“But I guess I’ll just have to keep going for years and years.”
Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after his Grand Slam of Darts victory:
World Championship 2023 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
