Luke Littler survived a scare and boos from the crowd to book his place in the fifth round of the UK Open.
The Nuke edged a thriller against Peter Wright at Butlin’s Minehead as he won 10-9 on Friday night.
X / @OfficialPDCLittler had a light-hearted response to being booed by the crowd[/caption]
X / @OfficialPDCThe Nuke had three words for the crowd during his clash with Wright[/caption]
Littler had led 7-4 before three consecutive 100+ checkouts from Snakebite to set up a tense finish.
The reigning world champion was unable to pull away again as the match went all the way to a last leg decider.
With Wright back on 266, Littler teed up the ‘Big Fish’ [170 checkout] after nine darts.
Fans inside the arena were left calling for a bullseye after the 18-year-old pinned a pair of triple 20s.
However, it was not to be as he smiled and shook his head before laying up with a 10.
Littler’s decision was met with boos from the crowd, who had been cheering him on to complete the biggest finish of them all.
He responded by wagging his finger and saying ‘not a chance’ as he walked back from the board.
Fortunately for the world number two, he was able to clean up on his next visit by taking out double 20 for the match.
Speaking afterwards, he made his intentions clear, explaining: “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.
X / @OfficialPDCLittler cleaned up 40 to win a thriller with Wright on Friday night[/caption]
“But I had to set myself up.”
Littler had to overcome a stunning performance from Wright as the Scot averaged 101.79 across the maximum 19 legs.
The teenager himself ended with a staggering 108.69 average, though, as he ultimately made it through to the last 32.
He will discover his next opponent later tonight, with the draw for the fifth round coming up once the fourth round has concluded.
Littler will be hoping to surpass his previous best at the UK Open, which saw him reach the quarter-finals last year.
The darts sensation has since won the World Series Finals, Grand Slam of Darts and PDC World Darts Championship to rise to second on the Order of Merit.