Three-time world champion and Sky pundit Glen Durrant has explained why he feels 'a bit nervous' for Luke Littler after comments he made towards the crowd following his win over Rob Cross.
Littler defeated 2018 champion Rob Cross 4-2 to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship.
He faces Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski for a place in the semi-finals and an opportunity to continue his defence of his title.
The 18-year-old hasn't faced too many stumbling blocks on the oche itself so far, with Cross undoubtedly his strongest challenger out of his four opponents.
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But 'The Nuke' did receive a mixed reaction from the Alexandra Palace crowd during his win over Cross.
When asked about the booing by Sky Sports reporter Polly James, Littler turned towards the crowd before stating: "I'm not bothered. Really not bothered.
"Can I just say one thing? You guys [the crowd] pay for tickets, you pay for my prize money. So thank you!
"No-one wanted me to win, but I proved them wrong yet again."
The reaction towards Littler noticeably shifted during 2025 as he continued to win major tournaments.
There was a similar shift in perception towards 2024 champion Luke Humphries as he began to dominate darts.
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Ahead of Littler's quarter-final against Ratajski on Thursday night, Durrant - who commentated on his last match of the tournament during the afternoon session - was asked for his opinion of the reaction to Littler's comments and what he is hoping to see from the 18-year-old.
"I'm a bit nervous for him," Durrant said on Sky Sports.
"He's 18. You don't know how a player's going to react.
"This sport, the regeneration of this sport over three years, has been down to him. He's been truly magnificent.
"He's been the most incredible story, that's put our humble sport on the front pages of the newspapers as well as the back pages.
"But he's 18, and when that crowd really gets on his back... the reaction from the crowd makes me slightly nervous."
When asked by presenter Anna Woolhouse about whether that reaction could spark a reaction from Littler himself, he replied: "I sit here as a fan, so that's what I'd like to see [a reaction from him].
"But the fact that the crowd are there, the fact that Ratajski will be tenacious... I'm interested to see how it goes."
Topics: Darts, Luke Littler, World Darts Championship
Ryan Smart