Seething Luke Littler Makes Fiery Comment Moments Into Grand Slam Semi-Final Before Making Remarkable History
Luke Littler’s rise in darts has been defined by brilliance, swagger, and an unshakeable competitive edge — and all three were on full display on Saturday night in Wolverhampton.
The 18-year-old sensation booked his place in the Grand Slam of Darts final after a dramatic victory over Danny Noppert, but the match began with a moment that had fans buzzing for an entirely different reason.
A frustrated Littler vents early on
Only a few legs into the semi-final, Littler was visibly irritated after a pair of stray darts and was caught on the broadcast cameras muttering a fiery, frustrated remark to himself as he walked back from the oche.
While the microphones did not capture the exact wording clearly, it was evident the teenager was far from pleased with his opening rhythm. Social media immediately erupted with reactions, many amused by how quickly Littler’s competitive fire took over.
One fan posted:
“Luke Littler gets angry quicker than anyone I’ve ever seen — and then averages 110 straight after.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
From frustration to fireworks
After the brief outburst, Littler flipped a switch.
He stormed through the next stretch of legs with a blistering run of heavy scoring, including:
- Six 180s in eight legs
- A spell of 12, 11, and 13-dart legs
- A finishing rate above 60%
Noppert, who had entered the semi-finals as the tournament’s quiet assassin, could only shake his head as Littler found another gear.
By the interval, it was clear Wolverhampton was witnessing another chapter in the teenager’s ever-growing highlight reel.
Record smashed — again
When Littler hit his stride, history followed.
In the second half of the match, the 18-year-old officially broke an 11-year tournament record held by Michael van Gerwen, becoming the youngest player ever to reach the Grand Slam of Darts final with a tournament average exceeding 103 across all rounds.
The crowd at Aldersley Leisure Village erupted when the statistic was announced.
Commentator Stuart Pyke put it perfectly:
“We keep saying there are no more records left for this young man to break — and then he goes and breaks another one.”
Littler: “I wasn’t happy, but I settled”
Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, Littler admitted he let his emotions show early on:
“I was annoyed with myself at the start — I just couldn’t find my first dart. But once I settled, I felt good. Danny’s class, so I knew I had to raise it.”
Asked about the viral reaction to his early frustration, he smiled:
“That’s just me. I care. I want to play my best every time.”
Noppert full of praise for the teenager
Despite the defeat, Danny Noppert had nothing but admiration for Littler’s performance:
“He hits a level that not many players in the world can reach. When he gets going, it’s almost impossible to stop.”
A blockbuster final awaits
Littler now advances to face Luke Humphries in what promises to be one of the most-watched Grand Slam finals in years.
With both men in top form — and with the world No.1 race hanging in the balance — Sunday’s showdown could be a classic.
