"Even Ross said he's an idiot that guy": Luke Littler once again left lamenting crowd behaviour despite benchmark World Masters win

Luke Littler produced one of the performances of the tournament so far at the 2026 World Masters as he swept aside Ross Smith in scintillating fashion, threatening multiple records and underlining his growing aura on the big stage.

Fresh from an emotional encounter the night before, Littler was in ruthless form from the outset, racing into an early lead and piling in the heavy scoring. Post-match, the teenager admitted even he was taken aback by just how high his standard climbed during the match.

“I’m very happy,” Littler said. “Obviously, hearing after my interview there that I was on a 117 average at one point – I think I was even on 120 at one stage – yeah, I’m very happy with it.”

Despite his dominance, Littler revealed he was not fully aware of the scale of his performance while it was unfolding. A mid-match break proved to be the only interruption to his momentum, and one he would rather have avoided.

“I knew I was playing very well, but when we went off for a break at 2–0 and came back on stage, I looked up and I was on 111 and four out of four on the doubles,” he explained. “I knew I was good on the doubles, but I’d rather have stayed on stage and not had a break and just got it out of the way. Obviously Ross deserved his set, but we move on to tomorrow.”

Littler is well known for keeping a close eye on the numbers, and once again records were never far from his thoughts. With his average flirting with historic territory, the world number one made no secret of his ambitions.

“I always want to break records,” he said. “If you put a big number in like I have there, that’s always a positive going into the next round. We can only build on it, and now I’m thinking about trying to break the record tomorrow.”

Asked just how far he believes the limits can be pushed, Littler referenced Michael van Gerwen’s benchmark TV averages, suggesting even the most extraordinary numbers may yet be within reach. “Did he do that in the Premier League? Was it first to six or first to seven? Was that six 12-darters – 125?” Littler said. “It could be done in the Premier League this year, we’ll find out. Records mean everything, but at the end of the day you’ve got the win, and that’s all that matters.”

While the averages inevitably dipped slightly as the match progressed, Littler showed no frustration, instead taking encouragement from the consistency of his overall performance. “On stage I only saw 111 after the second set, but being told the numbers were 117 and 118 throughout the game means I’m doing something right,” he said. “It got a bit scrappy at the end, but Ross even said to me that for the first three sets I was playing like a robot. He deserved his set, and closing it out meant the world to me.”

One of the most striking aspects of Littler’s display was his calm, almost emotionless demeanour on stage – a sharp contrast to the chaos occasionally unfolding around him in the crowd. The youngster admitted that keeping his head down has become a deliberate approach, particularly at a tournament he is desperate to add to his growing list of titles.

“It’s a tournament I’ve not won,” he said. “Like I said yesterday, just keep your head down and don’t react to anything. There were a few things in the crowd again tonight right at the front. Even Ross said it when we went off – it was happening throughout the game. But it’s for the world, so you just don’t react and get the job done.”

Littler also addressed questions around crowd behaviour and the role of security, expanding on a specific incident involving a disruptive individual in the front rows that both players were aware of during the match. “There were a few things in the crowd again tonight right at the very front,” Littler explained. “Even Ross said when we went off at 3–1, ‘he’s an idiot, that guy, whoever it was’. I didn’t know who it was, but it was happening throughout the game. So even Ross obviously saw it as well.”

Despite the distraction, Littler reiterated that his focus never wavered, particularly given the stakes of the tournament. “It’s for the world,” he said. “You just don’t react and you get the job done.”

Littler then addressed questions around crowd behaviour and the role of security, insisting that as long as he continues winning, outside distractions are largely irrelevant.

“If I’m winning, it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “One of the security came over after the second set and asked what was said, and I just told him I’d won the set so it didn’t matter. As long as I’m winning, that’s all that matters.”

However, he acknowledged that drawing attention to incidents can sometimes backfire, referencing a Premier League moment involving Luke Humphries.

“We saw it last year when someone said ‘stop whistling’ and everyone started whistling,” Littler recalled. “I go on and miss doubles, Luke takes a leg. I don’t think he was aware of it, but me and Ross were. Still, I got the job done.”

Looking ahead, Littler was asked about his growing list of rivals, with Humphries, Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen all looming large on the horizon. “Me and Luke have been battling for two years now, coming up to three,” he said. “Gian’s doing great. Michael didn’t have a good tournament again, but like I’ve always said, Michael will be back. Once the Premier League comes around, that’s when we’ll see the best of me, Luke, Gian, Michael, Josh and everyone else.”

After the drama of his previous match against van Gerwen, Littler admitted the priority against Smith was simply to get the job done – even if the performance ended up being headline-worthy.

“The main goal is always to win,” he said. “But to play well as well means everything. Ross doesn’t back off from you – he got 102 and he can be proud of that. But I’m prouder of advancing to tomorrow afternoon.”

Despite briefly flirting with a flawless victory, Littler was quick to credit Smith for his resistance. “Ross played well, he earned his set and his legs,” he said. “I was just happy to win.”

Attention now turns to a mouth-watering clash with Josh Rock, although Littler was keen to downplay predictions. “You can’t predict anything when you come off stage,” he said. “I might turn up tomorrow and not play like that, or I might play even better. As long as the practice is going well, I’m sure there won’t be any problems.”

With 40 maximums shared between the pair in just 13 legs, Littler also reflected on his power scoring – and a near-miss at perfection.

“The power scoring was there from the very start,” he said. “I was gutted in one leg where I hit a 140 after the 180 to have a go at the nine-darter because the lay-up was perfect. The darts were standing up and I couldn’t get it. I even walked around saying to myself how perfect it was. Hopefully I can come back tomorrow and play like that again.”

Finally, when asked about managing his schedule across a packed season, Littler revealed he is taking a relaxed approach. “I’ve entered all of them,” he said. “If I turn up to them, then I turn up to them.”