GET your chores done early, fill a bowl full of your favourite snacks and settle into your comfy chair to see if Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler can go all the way in the UK Open on Sunday.
The 17-year-old, who is now the tournament co-favourite, will be among the quarter-finalists from 12.45pm, live on ITV3 or ITV4, after knocking out St Helens thrower Dave Chisnall in the last 16 at Butlin’s Resort Minehead on Saturday night.
‘The Nuke’ sent Chizzy dizzy with his best average scoring of the tournament so far to deliver a solid 10-5 victory and stay on track for the £110,000 first prize.
Although the former Runcorn resident got off to a slow start and was broken in the first leg, he clawed his way back from 3-1 down to win six of the next seven legs for a 7-4 lead and the world number 10 never got a proper look-in again after that.
While Littler’s display was absent of his typical flashy big finishes and down on 180s, there was a consistency to his scoring that produced a 103.3 average for the match and wore the 43-year-old down.
The teenager, who was still at Padgate Academy this time last year, also banked 59 per cent of his doubles, with his highest checkout being 94 as he moved 9-5 ahead.
Earlier in the day, Littler was given a tough ride by German professional Martin Schnider before running out the 10-8 winner to back up his 10-7 success against James Wade upon entering the competition at the fourth-round stage on Friday night.
‘The Nuke’ has been the big draw for supporters in the Somerset seaside town and indeed has been the only thrower to appear on the main stage for all three of his matches.
He has already gone further in this competition than before, having made it to the fourth round on his debut last year.
The quarter-final draw was made after Saturday night's matches were all finished and Littler will be up against Australia's Damon Heta for a place in the semi-finals.
Heta overhauled Gian van Veen 10-8 in his quarter-final and Nathan Aspinall 10-9 earlier in the day.
2024 Ladbrokes UK Open Quarter-Final draw, matches starting at 12.45pm on Sunday, March 3, 2024:
Stephen Bunting v Luke Humphries
Ricky Evans v Rob Cross
Damon Heta v Luke Littler
Martin Lukeman v Dimitri Van Den Bergh
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