Luke Littler in three-word message to fans who booed him in UK Open thriller against Peter Wright
Luke Littler Battles Past Peter Wright to Reach UK Open Fifth Round
Luke Littler overcame a tense last-leg decider and boos from the crowd to secure his spot in the fifth round of the UK Open with a thrilling 10-9 victory over Peter Wright at Butlin’s Minehead on Friday night.
A Match Full of Drama
Littler appeared to be in control, leading 7-4, but Wright produced three consecutive 100+ checkouts, setting up a nerve-wracking finale. Despite his efforts, the reigning world champion couldn’t pull away, forcing the match into a decisive final leg.
With Wright stranded on 266, Littler had a chance to hit the ‘Big Fish’ (a 170 checkout) after nine darts. The crowd erupted as the 18-year-old nailed two triple 20s, urging him to go for the bullseye.
However, Littler opted to lay up with a 10, sparking boos from the audience. Shaking his head with a smile, he responded by wagging his finger and saying, “Not a chance,” as he walked back from the board.
Despite the crowd’s reaction, Littler sealed the win on his next visit, hitting double 20 to progress to the last 32.
Post-Match Reaction
Addressing his decision not to go for the 170, Littler made his stance clear:
“I was never going for the 170! If he was on a 164 finish or something like that, then I have the right to go for it. But I had to set myself up.”
Sensational Averages in a Classic Encounter
The match showcased high-quality darts, with Wright averaging 101.79 across all 19 legs. However, Littler’s incredible 108.69 average ultimately proved decisive as he booked his place in the next round.
He now awaits the fifth-round draw, set to take place after the conclusion of the fourth-round matches.
Littler Aims to Go One Better
Littler will be hoping to surpass his previous best at the UK Open, having reached the quarter-finals last year. Since then, he has won the World Series Finals, Grand Slam of Darts, and the PDC World Darts Championship, cementing his place as World No. 2 in the Order of Merit.
With momentum on his side, the darts sensation will be eager to continue his remarkable rise and chase yet another major title.
