Luke Littler has responded to comments from James Wade that suggested the teenage darts sensation is “lazy” behind closed doors.
Littler and Wade came head-to-head at the World Masters in Milton Keynes on Saturday, with the reigning world champion not even dropping a leg, let alone a set, against the 41-year-old.
It was a whitewash in name and nature, with Littler’s dominance having seen him restrict Wade to zero darts at a double.
A damaging defeat for Wade, who prior to taking to the oche had said: “I don’t believe anyone is amazing apart from the Luke [Littler] and the Luke [Humphries].
“And after that, they could be quite lazy, they’re not Phil Taylors they’re not Michael van Gerwens at their best. But there are gaps in the market and it is what it is.”
When asked about Wade’s pre-match comments after the win, an honest Littler responded: “I didn’t see it [the claim]. But he’s right, I am lazy in the practice room as well.
“I don’t have to practice for hours and hours while in the practice room. You know yourself as a player when you’ve practiced for that long you’re warmed up and ready to go.”
On his performance in general, Littler added: “I knew he didn’t hit a double, but to not get a shot at double.
“I think I was more than 15 over him in the averages and that goes to show how well I played tonight.
“He’s been playing well Jonny [Clayton, Littler’s next opponent]. But as for myself, I’ve played really well. It’s an early wake-up tomorrow, and just go to bed and refresh and come back tomorrow.”
Littler and Clayton have only met once before in the past, with the teen demolishing his quarter-final opponent during a Players Championship event last year.
Clayton won just one of the seven legs in his previous encounter with Littler and on the Nuke’s current form, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a similar result on Sunday afternoon.
Elsewhere at the World Masters, Luke Humphries and Damon Heta face off in the opening quarter-final tie, with Danny Noppert vs Stephen Bunting to follow.
Littler vs Clayton is the third match in the last-eight line-up, while the semi-finals will be decided during Nathan Aspinall vs Dimitri Van den Bergh – the Belgian fresh off the back of a stunning nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen in the previous round.
The tournament will be played to a conclusion on Sunday, with the last four and final to come in the evening session.
