Unseeded Luke Littler wins Austrian Darts Open as he cruises to second European Tour title against Joe Cullen
LUKE LITTLER is The Whizkid of Aus after another dream display.
The unseeded Nuke virtually reduced fellow Englishman Joe Cullen to the role of a cowardly lion with a swaggering 8-4 victory in the Austrian Darts Open final for his second European Tour title.
PDC DARTSLuke Littler shows off his latest trophy[/caption]
Loser Joe Cullen blasted his own performance as ‘rubbish’Rex
And afterwards the Manchester United fan, 17, revealed he is being driven on by the promise of a special Red Devils-related bonus.
Littler said: “My manager said if I do well this and do well in a few weeks then I can have another Euro Tour off and go and see United.
“I’m doing well to go and watch United in the (FA Cup) final.”
Littler should surely have shown signs of tiredness following his dash from Liverpool after his Premier League Darts Night 13 triumph on Thursday.
But instead he looked fresher, more relaxed and at times almost better than ever.
Littler, 17, and Cullen had looked the strongest performers in Graz all weekend.
And for a while the 34-year-old defied a huge mis-match in throwing averages – Littler’s 103 dwarfing his 85 – to hang on in there.
The teenager was neve behind but was pegged back to 3-3 and then to just 5-4 up.
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But four 180s in the final six legs helped Littler see it home as e reeled off the final three legs easily – finishing it off, predictably and emphatically, with a bull.
The Warrington starlet then gave Austria one of the ultimate tribute amid a party atmosphere.
He told PDC TV: “I started off very well, then Joe started to fall off a little and I could see it home.
“I said Belgium was good – but you guys are so much better!”
Cullen, meanwhile, was gutted to see his impressive tournament splutter at the final hurdle.
But he held himself together to just avoid some X-rated self-criticism.
The Bradford hurler said on PDC TV: “I was rubbish. I don’t think Luke Littler played that well but he did what I had to do.
“But I was ssssssssh…. not very good!”
He then readjusted his sights to “congratulate Littler” for his “fantastic” ability and achievements.
AlamyLittler was again in outstanding form[/caption]
Inside Littler’s massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has since joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
Check out all of our Luke Littler stories here.
