Luke Littler wins Dutch Masters opener to set up chance of revenge against Humphries after playing FIFA to to warm up

3 months ago 25

LUKE LITTLER silenced the Dutch boo-boys as he made a winning start to life in Den Bosch.

The 17-year-old comfortably saw off techno-loving Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 in the first round of the Dutch Darts Masters, the second event on this year’s World Series of Darts circuit.

Luke Littler beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 to reach the Dutch Darts Masters quarter-finals[/caption]

The teenager was unfazed by the boos from the crowd[/caption]

When he walked-on – a week after he lifted the Bahrain Darts Masters in thrilling fashion – there were a smattering of boos from partisan fans.

Yet he jokily cupped and then flicked his ears in mock humour and then arrived on stage to eliminate the Aubergine King.

Van Duijvenbode, 31, offered very little but that could be down to his ongoing shoulder injury and he was also put off by a heckler.

For Littler, there was no nine-darter in the opening leg – like there was last Friday night against Nathan Aspinall in the Middle Eastern desert – but he did open up with a 180.

Littler, whose fame has gone global this month, showed that he could cope with a slightly hostile crowd and his finishing was very impressive, specifically that incredible 150 checkout to end proceedings.

The teen sensation looked calm as anything for someone who had prepared for the match by playing the video game Fifa on his phone.

An image of Littler was shared by former world champion Michael Smith as they got in practice prior to their big games.

Smith said on his Facebook: “Trying play darts and this little (poo emoji) playing Fifa.”

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In the quarter-finals on Saturday night, Littler will face Luke Humphries – the man who beat him in the world final – as he gets a crack at redemption for his Ally Pally heartbreak.

Meanwhile, Michael Smith snapped at a snapper as he was humbled on the opening night in Holland.

The former world darts champion took exception as he noticed a photographer’s camera flash going off in his eye line during the eighth leg of his 6-3 loss to Dutch debutant Gian van Veen.

Bully Boy, 33, was mid throw of a 180 score when he stopped his motion and signalled to the guys working in the photography pit to his left.

Referee George Noble also told off the photographers, telling them to curb their flashes while the match was taking place.

Yet Smith’s early-round defeat – at times the No.3 seed looked disinterested while throwing – is not good news for his Premier League hopes next week in Cardiff.

Local lad Van Veen, 21, celebrated his first TV win his homeland and he said: “Both of us didn’t play our best game. It was a scrappy win. But I like to win those types of matches. I’m really happy.”

Two other established PDC names, Nathan Aspinall and Peter Wright, were also booted out of their opening contests.

World Matchplay champion Aspinall lost 6-2 to Danny Noppert and then Scotsman Wright’s awful form continued as he averaged just 81.65 in a 6-2 surrender at the hands of world No.62 Kevin Doets.

For both men, they will now head into the Prem on Thursday with little confidence or rhythm to their games.

Defending champion Dimitri van den Bergh was knocked out 6-3 by Gerwyn Price, meaning there will be a new name on the trophy come Saturday night.

Clincial Raymond van Barneveld survived two match darts to knock out Rob Cross 6-5 – in the first last-leg decider of the night.