Darts superstar Luke Littler has surprisingly agreed with James Wade’s controversial assessment that he is lazy.
The reigning world champion made the candid confession after thrashing ‘The Machine’ at the World Masters.
Wade, who only earned his nickname because he hits double 10 like a machine, wasn’t allowed a single shot at a double against Littler.
‘The Nuke’, who dispatched Wade in under 16 minutes, then had the chance to stick the knife in when quizzed on his rival’s comments.
Wade had come under fire for his thinly veiled swipe at Littler and namesake Luke Humphries pre-match about players being lazy behind closed doors.
“I don’t believe anyone is amazing apart from probably Luke and Luke and, after that, they can be quite lazy,” Wade said.
“They’re not Phil Taylor‘s, they’re not Michael van Gerwen‘s at their best, but they are phenomenal players.
“But there’s gaps in the market and it is what it is.”
The verdict had already sparked a reaction from Humphries, who hit back at the jibe by claiming no darts player ‘works harder’ than him.
Littler, however, hasn’t followed suit by instead acknowledging that his natural talent means he doesn’t need extensive practice time.
When questioned about Wade’s comments, Littler responded: “I didn’t see it, but he’s right. I am lazy in the practice room as well.”
The teenager added: “I don’t have to practice for hours and hours.
“You know yourself when to play when you’ve practiced for that long, you’ve warmed up and you’re ready to go.”
Once again, Littler let his arrows do the talking in a complete 4-0 domination over Wade to book his spot in the quarter-finals.
“I knew he didn’t hit a double, but to not get a shot at double,” Littler continued.
“I think I was more than 15 over him in the averages and that goes to show how well I played tonight.”
“Sometimes I do surprise myself, but then again, I can look at myself and say you have got the game to do it, you are World Champion, you can beat anyone.”
Littler averaged 105.47 and clinched 50 per cent on the doubles and humbly said to ITV 4: “I played very well there.
“I just had to take my chances and win eight on the bounce.
“Any player will expect the best game out of James Wade but I am thankful he didn’t turn up tonight.
“But a 105 average would have been tough to beat and I had 50 per cent on the doubles which I am very happy with.
“I just wanted to get the job done. James can play very well but it was just not his day.”