'I'm a World Darts Championship referee – Luke Littler causes me a headache every match'
'I'm a World Darts Championship referee – Luke Littler causes me a headache every match'
Share:
Luke Littler has been a gift from god for darts – but he causes a few headaches for the sport’s referees. The World Championship favourite continues his quest for Alexandra Palace glory tonight (Saturday) when he faces veteran Ian White in the third round. Littler should be full of confidence after his searing finish to his second round victory over Ryan Meikle.
The Nuke averaged an incredible 140 in the final set and was millimetres away from hitting a nine-dart finish. It was a continuation of the form which has seen him transcend the darting world over the last 12 months. During that time, he has tested both referees and spotters (the individual who tells the cameras where to aim during a match) with his quirky finishing routines. Huw Ware, one of the officials on duty at the World Championship, has lifted the lid on what it’s like to referee a Littler match.
“It’s the players that play more on instinct [who are most difficult], they don’t necessarily have a set way of going,” Ware told the Weekly Dartscast before the tournament. “I don’t think there’s a game that goes by where Luke Littler doesn’t throw me at least once. A lot of what he does makes total sense but it’s maybe a bit different from the last time he went for that shot, or it’s something different to what I was expecting him to do. Those that play more off the cuff…”.
YOUR TURN! Who are you tipping to win the World Championship? Tell us in the comments section. Other players, Ware says, are a little more predicable with their finishing routes. He added: “Someone like Gerwyn Price has a very set way of going. I know, pretty much before he throws the dart, where it’s aiming for so I can prepare myself for that mentally on the maths side of things.
