2 minutes At just 17, the Premier League Darts leader showcased his exceptional skills, advancing past 'The Rockstar' with four 180s and an impressive match average of just over 102.
Luke Littler triumphed with an 8-4 win against Joe Cullen at the Austrian Darts Open in Graz, securing his second European Tour title. Cullen, impressed by the young player, hailed him as a "generational talent."
At just 17, the Premier League Darts leader showcased his exceptional skills, advancing past 'The Rockstar' with four 180s and an impressive match average of just over 102. Known as 'The Nuke', Littler added the Austrian title to his resume, which also includes his debut victory at the Belgian Open in March.
The game was evenly matched until the eighth leg at the Steiermarkhalle when Littler, with a 65 finish on double top, pulled ahead 5-3. Cullen broke back immediately, but Littler intensified his play, breaking again in the tenth leg to regain control.
Maintaining his momentum, Littler won the following leg, placing him just a step away from victory, which he clinched with a precise 71 checkout on the bullseye.
"I'm happy to get over the line on this one. We started off well but I stuck at it and Joe started to fall off and I managed to get over the line," Littler remarked.
"I said Belgium was good but this crowd is so much better. This weekend has been good, the crowd has helped me so much."
The young star also reflected on the broader impact of his win, suggesting it might allow him more freedom in his schedule.
"If I do well and get into the other majors and I'm secure in myself then I can drop out of stuff and take the days off and just chill, so winning this has done me really well."
Cullen, while disappointed in his performance, acknowledged Littler's superior play. "To be honest, I was rubbish, he played better than me and did what he had to do at the right time," he admitted.
"I was not very good. I'm disappointed with the way I played but congratulations to Luke, he's a generational talent. I think I've practised more in the last hour than he has all week."
Littler's path to the final included a semi-final victory over Masters champion Stephen Bunting with a score of 7-5, after earlier dominating Ross Smith 7-2 in the quarter-finals, where he posted a match average exceeding 105. His quarter-final victory over Danny Noppert was a narrow escape, decided in the final leg after a significant comeback by the Dutchman.
As fans and enthusiasts look forward to Littler's next appearances, many are exploring darts betting sites to gauge the odds and potentials of upcoming matches, highlighting the growing excitement around this young talent's future in darts.