LUKE EYEING UP GLORY

TEEN sensation Luke Littler admits he has pictured himself winning the Paddy Power World Championship title. 

The Warrington wonderkid continues his quest for glory at the Ally Pally against Brendan Dolan in the quarter-finals this afternoon. 

Littler, 16, beat his idol Raymond van Barneveld on Saturday night and is now just three wins away from the most sensational world crown win in history. 

He said: “Unbelievable. I don't know what to say. I went 2-0 up, then 3-0 up. I said to my family, 'Three legs away, one set away, and then I am over the line'. Now I have done it.

“Barney said to me at the end, 'You can go all the way. I hope you go all the way'. I said, 'Thank you'.

“He is a true gentlemen. I respect Raymond very well.

“I've pictured myself winning it. I look at the draw and see Brendan Dolan next and then Chris Dobey against Rob Cross in the other quarter.

“I fancy myself. If I can get over the line and so does Chris, we can play each other  we have the same management. I will just focus on Brendan.”

Littler can’t even remember when he last lost a game and believes he has a chance to overcome Brendan Dolan in the last eight. 

On his last defeat, he said: “A singles game? No idea. Maybe in Gibraltar. October. I haven’t lost a lot of games.

“Whatever Luke Littler turns up will decide the outcome. My first four games have been successful. I have not really experienced a lot of losing. 

“You cannot get beaten on the Ally Pally stage and start throwing stuff, I know that. I am lot more matured now.”

Littler relaxed ahead of his crunch quarters clash with a visit to Tottenham’s home game with Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve. 

He is also happy with the media attention, adding: “Yeah, I’m doing interviews with Sky Sports. Usually I am up in the morning watching Sky Sports News. Now I am on the news. It’s all incredible. I am taking it all in my stride.”

Words by Phil Lanning.

Images by Taylor Lanning.