Luke Littler advances to World Darts Championship semi-finals
Luke Littler has stormed into the World Darts Championship semi-finals after demolishing Krzysztof Ratajski in a ruthless 5-0 whitewash at Alexandra Palace, reports BritPanorama.
The 18-year-old defending champion displayed exceptional skill, landing 10 maximum 180s along with four ton-plus checkouts on his way to an emphatic victory.
Ratajski, who had enjoyed a surprise run to the last eight, found himself overwhelmed by Littler’s performance despite posting a respectable 97 average. The Polish player won just five legs as Littler dominated the match, even achieving a stunning 170 checkout.
As the match unfolded, it became clear the crowd at Ally Pally were far friendlier towards Littler this time, a stark contrast to the boos he faced during his previous round against Rob Cross. Fans greeted the Warrington star with cheers, signalling a significant turnaround in support.
After the quarter-final match, Littler remarked, “The crowd were very good tonight – new year so must be some new fans,” indicating a broader acceptance from the audience. He also noted that he was pushing himself throughout the contest, saying, “I was just saying to myself ‘try to be better’.” Despite his commanding display, Littler remained modest, adding, “Still throughout the match it didn’t feel like anything.”
Looking ahead, Littler is now just two wins away from back-to-back world titles. He will face Ryan Searle in the semi-finals, who earlier defeated Wales’ Jonny Clayton 5-2. “I am the next man in Ryan’s way – hopefully we can have a good game tomorrow night,” Littler said, clearly relishing the challenge.
With his recent performances, including a complete turnaround in public opinion, Littler is poised to further demonstrate why he is one of the rising stars in the sport. As he prepares for the critical matches ahead, attention will be on whether he can maintain his rich vein of form into the final stages of the tournament.
