Luke Littler was scolded by Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle after pulling off the comeback of all comebacks to beat Gerwyn Price in the Premier League on Thursday night. The reigning world champion lost the opening five legs against his Welsh opponent in Dublin, leaving him on the brink of a crushing defeat. However, he managed to dig deep and reel off six legs on the spin to win the match and claim his latest nightly victory.
Littler defeated Stephen Bunting and Michael van Gerwen on his way to the final, with his match against the latter providing huge entertainment. Both players nailed 170 checkouts and Littler celebrated his in style with a ‘reeling in’ gesture, owing to the ‘big fish’ nickname. Mardle, however, argued that Littler was actually ‘reeling out’ and urged him to brush up on his fishing knowledge.
Speaking to the teenager in his post-match interview after beating Price in the final, Mardle said: « You reel it out! You need to reel it in. » Littler responded: « Do I? Oh, okay. »
Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton interjected: « Maybe he’s reeling it out to reel it in, you know? » Mardle wasn’t having any of it, though, and got increasingly animated.
He fired back: « No, no, the fish is already out there! Start reeling it in, pal. Look, that’s casting it out! You can’t argue with kids. »
Littler was also quizzed on his remarkable comeback against Price in the final, admitting that he thought he was going to lose when he was five legs down.
« I have no idea how I have done that, » he said. « I got the first leg, had a bit of fun. Then I got my 180 but Gezzy had set up tops so I waved them goodbye.
« The rest is history. I was gone. When Gerwyn Price was on tops he doesn’t usually miss. Absolutely, I thought I was gone. I may as well have been off the stage. This is darts, things happen.
« I played very well against Stephen and got the two points. Then it was another brilliant game with Michael. The final. Nothing to say.
« I am just closing that gap on Jonny [Clayton]. Obviously I have finished top the last two years and I want to do it again. Jonny and the start he has had, it is good to see I am in second, but I am right behind him now and chasing. »
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