Unseeded Luke Littler wins Austrian Darts Open as he cruises to second European Tour title against Joe Cullen
Starlet revealed he is closing in on a special Man Utd-related prize
LUKE LITTLER is The Whizkid of Aus after another dream display.
The unseeded Nuke virtually reduced fellow Englishman Joe Cullen to the role of a cowardly lion with a swaggering 8-4 victory in the Austrian Darts Open final for his second European Tour title.
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Luke Littler shows off his latest trophyCredit: PDC DARTS
Loser Joe Cullen blasted his own performance as ‘rubbish’Credit: Rex
The victorious Nuke was well suited to putting on the jacket
And afterwards the Manchester United fan, 17, revealed he is being driven on by the promise of a special Red Devils-related bonus.
Littler disclosed: “My manager said if I do well this and do well in a few weeks then I can have another Euro Tour off and go and see United.
“I’m doing well to go and watch United in the (FA Cup) final.”
Littler should surely have shown signs of tiredness following a dash from Liverpool after his Premier League Darts Night 13 triumph on Thursday.
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But instead the 17-year-old looked fresher, more relaxed and at times better than ever.
Littler and Cullen had looked the strongest performers in Graz all weekend.
And for a while the 34-year-old defied a huge mis-match in throwing averages – Littler’s 103 dwarfing his 85 – to hang on in there.
Cullen was never in front but pegged the Warrington starlet back to 3-3 and then took the ninth leg to trail just 5-4.
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But four 180s in the final six legs helped Littler roar home as he reeled off the final three legs – finishing off, predictably and emphatically, with a bull.
He then gave the Austrian crowd one of the ultimate tributes amid a party atmosphere.
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He told PDC TV: “I started off very well, then Joe started to fall off a little and I could see it home.
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“I said Belgium was good – but you guys are so much better!”
Cullen, meanwhile, was gutted to see his impressive tournament splutter at the final hurdle.
But he held himself together to just about avoid some X-rated self-criticism.
The Bradford hurler said: “I was rubbish. I don’t think Luke Littler played that well but he did what I had to do.
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“But I was ssssssssh…. not very good!”
Cullen then readjusted his sights to “congratulate” Littler for his “fantastic” ability and achievements.
Littler was again in outstanding formCredit: Alamy
Inside Littler’s massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has since joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
