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Luke Littler is the \u201cdarting freak\u201d lighting up the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. The 16-year-old is the fourth-youngest player to compete at the World Darts Championship and registered the highest ever average by a debutant in the sport\u2019s flagship event in a stunning victory over Christian Kist.<\/p>\n
Littler recently won the Junior Darts Championship and is the sport\u2019s most highly-rated young star. He has been compared to darts legends Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, and has been told he has an \u201cinnate ability\u201d in the same form of Lionel Messi in football.<\/p>\n
In his match against Kist, Littler recorded a blistering 3-0 win. He hit seven 180s and finished with a remarkable average of 106.12. While most darts stars celebrate their victories with an alcoholic beverage, Littler\u2019s age meant that he had to settle for a kebab.<\/p>\n
“I’ll probably just treat myself to a kebab, get myself some bottles of Coke or Fanta,\u201d he said after defeating Kist.<\/p>\n
Four-time World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle has hailed Littler as a \u201cdarting freak\u201d who is comparable with Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman had a similar breakthrough in his early years and became a young champion of the tournament aged 25 in 2014.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe often say that people are born with an innate ability. Some people don\u2019t find theirs. Some people say Lionel Messi was born with a ball at his feet. But this (darts) really is Littler\u2019s innate ability. From the age of 12, he\u2019s been hitting 180s on a daily basis,\u201d Mardle told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impatience of him, he wants to win it now because he\u2019s good enough to do it now. Whilst it seems silly, being 16 to him means absolutely nothing. He wants it now because he feels he\u2019s good enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes he\u2019s good enough to win any event, I really believe that. For it to happen this week or next, I\u2019m not saying that it can\u2019t\u2026 yes I\u2019m not saying it would be pushing the boat out. But to reach the last-16 or even the quarter-final, it would not be pushing the boat out.<\/p>\n
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World Darts Championship star invited to Wimbledon after ace steals his nickname<\/strong><\/p>\n\n