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Suddenly the GDR flag is waved at the Darts World Cup
Status: 27.12.2023 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Fans of the workers’ and farmers’ state at the Darts World Cup
Source: Screenshot/Lutz Wöckener
Luke Littler stormed into the round of 16 of the Darts World Cup. The 16-year-old prodigy from England put in another impressive performance. The fans at Alexandra Palace, however, caused confusion.
It was in the first sentence when the piece of fabric first became visible. Luke Littler had just thrown a 180 against Matt Campbell in his third round match at the World Darts Championship when the 3,200 fans at Alexandra Palace felt forced to escalate for the first time.
“Without Germany there would be nothing going on here,” they sang, but apparently there were different opinions about which Germany exactly was meant. In any case, a group at the tables in front of the stage waved a large GDR flag. With a little imagination the name Littler may have a Saxon ring to it, but that evening in the venerable walls in north London there were two Englishmen, two Dutchmen, a Canadian and a Latvian on stage. So why take a GDR flag with you to England? Hard to understand. Maybe they were time travelers.
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Quite similar to the aforementioned Littler, whose existence is officially documented as of January 21, 2007. It is becoming increasingly difficult to believe that the young man is actually only 16 years old, and not just because of his appearance. “The Nuke”, as he is known, also won the third game in his World Cup debut. And that clearly. Littler outclassed Canadian Matt Campbell at times and deservedly won 4-1.
The next hurdle overcome: Luke Littler (left) clearly defeated Matt Campbell
Source: dpa/Steven Paston
The teenager, who will play his first season on the professional tour in 2024 and had previously knocked Christian Kist and UK Open champion Andrew Gilding out of the tournament, won the first six legs in a row against Campbell, including a 130 in the second set .
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In the second round he gave his opponent at least two legs, but turned a 0:2 into a 3:2 and made it 3:0 after sets. Things remained tight in the fourth round too. Littler missed a match dart on the bullseye in the decider and Campbell at least got a set.
But the prodigy immediately straightened out the balance of power with a 164 high finish at the start of the fifth set and took a 1-0 lead. He followed up with a 100 checkout to make it 2-1 and then crossed the finish line with his third match dart on double 20. An average of 97.19 and a double rate of 40 percent rounded off the convincing performance.
In the round of 16 there could be a big generational duel on Saturday with Raymond van Barneveld, who is 40 years older. The Dutchman will first play against Englishman Jim Williams on Friday. Possibly without support from the German Democratic Republic.
Darts World Cup, results on December 27th
3rd round:
Scott Williams (ENG) – Martin Schindler (D/26) 4:3 n.V. (1:3; 0:3; 3:0; 3:2; 0:3; 3:1; 4:2)
Dave Chisnall (ENG/11) – Gabriel Clemens (D/22) 4:1 (3:1; 3:0; 3:1; 1:3; 3:2)
Rob Cross (ENG/8) – Jeffrey de Graaf (SWE) 4:2 (3:2; 3:0; 2:3; 3:2; 1:3; 3:1)
Matt Campbell (CAN) – Luke Littler (ENG) 1:4 (0:3; 0:3; 2:3; 3:2; 1:3)
Michael van Gerwen (NED/2) – Richard Veenstra (NED)
Michael Smith (ENG/1) – Madars Razma (LAT/32)
Darts World Cup, schedule for December 28th
3rd round (from 1:45 p.m.):
Florian Hempel (D) – Stephen Bunting (ENG/18)
Joe Cullen (ENG/14) – Ryan Searle (ENG/19)
Ross Smith (ENG/16) – Chris Dobey (ENG/17)
3rd round (from 8 p.m.):
Gerwyn Price (WAL/5) – Brendan Dolan (NIR/28)
Luke Humphries (ENG/3) – Ricardo Pietreczko (D)
Ricky Evans (ENG) – Daryl Gurney (NIR/27)
