"Luke's got that presence" - 'Unplayable' Littler putting in Phil Taylor-esque performances at Grand Slam of Darts according to Mark Webster

Luke Littler was at his brilliant best on Saturday night, taking just over 20 minutes to dismantle Jermaine Wattimena 16-2 and race into the semi-finals of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts. According to ex-pro turned Sky Sports expert, there were shades of the great Phil Taylor in Littler's performance.

"He's got to say he was just beaten by a phenomenon today," said Webster on Sky Sports after being asked for Wattimena's post-match thoughts. "We've seen Phil Taylor and Michael Van Gerwen do it in the past, bullying the opponents. Littler has done it there and for Jermaine, he's just got to go away, head held high, just forget about it because you watch Littler at times, and it wasn't just unbeatable darts, it was unplayable darts."

Having been on the circuit when Taylor was around, Webster knows how it feels to be on the recieving end of a dismantling and as such can emphasise with the helpless Wattimena. "I've been on the receiving end, and you're just going up thinking, sometimes 140s aren't enough," he says with a laugh. "You're under pressure to hit big every visit, and it just got to Jermaine, and that's the impact Luke's got now."

"Luke's got that presence. When you used to play Phil Taylor, Michael Van Gerwen, they had that presence before they got on the stage, and he's got that now. He bullied him from the get-go, and Jermaine couldn't do anything about it, couldn't withstand it," continues the Welshman.

As Webster mentions, Littler came to Wolverhampton with a point to prove following a string of first round exits at ranking majors. "He did an interview after his first game and he mentioned that there'd been too much talk about those first-round exits," Webster recalls. "He played alright, he just got beat. It happens, it will happen again, as good as he is, he will get beat in tournaments in the opening couple of rounds. You just get over it. He's 11 months into his professional career, he's still learning, but he's some talent, he's really headstrong, he just gets darts as a package, he understands everything about it. He's an entertainer as well, and he did it all in that game there."

If Littler is to add the Grand Slam of Darts title to his growing trophy cabinet though, he must first get over the mouthwatering task of Gary Anderson in the semifinals. "Who won't look forward to that tie?" Webster asks aloud. "Littler will look forward to playing Gary. They're going to suit each other's rhythm. Even if they use all 31 legs, it won't take long. It's a mouth-watering contest that I'm really looking forward to. I'm glad we're going to get it over such a long format, and with both going in in great form."

"Both had big victories in the quarter-finals. Obviously the margin of score was different, but both of them have been really good," the former Lakeside champion concludes. "How can you not look forward to this game? It's the up-and-comer against someone who's been there and done it and it's got the recipe for an absolute thriller."