S Poddar
In one of the stunning turnarounds witnessed at the Darts World Masters, a young star was stunned out when 18-year-old world champion Luke Littler suffered defeat in the quarter-final against Wales’ veteran darts player, Jonny Clayton, in a match that came close to completion with a loss of 4-2 against the Welsh at Milton Keynes.
Littler had a great display of his talents throughout the game, hitting nine 180s to Clayton’s eight. He also averaged better at 108.50 compared to his opponent’s 103.96. However, what made this thriller was Clayton’s accuracy in finishing. While Littler only hit 35% of his doubles, with seven out of 20, Clayton capitalized on the crucial moments, hitting nine out of 15 for 60%.
The 50-year-old Welshman finally delivered when it mattered the most, providing crucial checkouts, like the decisive tops finish in the third leg of the sixth set. That moment pushed him ahead and ultimately sealed his win, that being a huge step forward in his run within the tournament.
Despite the defeat, Littler remained composed and showed sportsmanship by acknowledging his opponent’s brilliance. Though he could not perform at his best, the night belonged to Clayton. His magnificent display included three century-plus checkouts, one of which was a stunning 138 finish, whereas Littler failed to register a single ton-plus checkout.
Reflecting on his victory, Clayton said, “This stage likes me, I think. Luke didn’t play his A-game, it’s a battle, and I got over the line.” He conceded Littler’s dominance in their last few meetings, adding, “He has given me a big lesson the last two times, so I’ve got one back.”
With a huge grin, Clayton continued, “I just tried to concentrate—please hit the treble 20. It went my way, it was my day. Finishing is what wins you games—trebles for fun, doubles for dough. I’m relaxed, I’m enjoying the tournament, and hopefully, I can carry on.”
Littler’s journey doesn’t end here. He will return to action on Thursday as the Premier League Darts season rolls off. He faces Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals as he begins his title defense at Belfast.
The tournament has given much high-stakes drama so far, and fans expect even more electrifying moments as the world’s best players battle each other for supremacy at the oche.
