"People might have said I was nervous – I wasn’t" – Luke Littler shrugs off pressure after edging past Clayton to World Series quarters

Reigning champion Luke Littler will return to centre stage on Finals Day in Amsterdam after grinding out back-to-back 6–4 victories over Simon Whitlock and Jonny Clayton to keep his World Series of Darts Finals crown alive.

The 18-year-old showed both resilience and maturity beyond his years on Saturday night, overturning a 3–0 deficit to eliminate 2021 winner Clayton in a nervy affair where the Welshman squandered eight darts at double to force a deciding leg.

Littler admitted he wasn’t at his explosive best but believes the longer format on Sunday could play into his hands. “It’s been tough today, playing two matches. I just feel a bit tired, but I had to get myself over the line against Jonny,” he said. “Tomorrow, first to ten, the longer format will definitely suit me. Hopefully I can play better than I did today.”

Littler conceded there was “a little bit of ring rust” in his performance, with missed opportunities and sluggish spells peppering both matches. “I’ve been practising a little bit at home but it’s just not really happening for me at the minute,” he reflected. “I had a 96 average there, but I know I can do a lot better.”

Despite those concerns, the teenager produced his trademark clutch finishing when it mattered most. Against Whitlock, checkouts of 120 and 92 proved pivotal, while against Clayton, a four-leg burst from 3–0 down turned the contest in his favour. “When I broke him for 4–3 and then held for 5–3, I kind of felt like I had him,” Littler explained. “But at 5–4 I knew I couldn’t give him another chance.”

This is Littler’s latest experience of defending a televised title, having fallen short in the Premier League final earlier this year. He acknowledged that returning as the reigning champion brings a different kind of expectation. “Obviously the first year is a new experience,” he said. “When you come back as defending champion, there’s always that expectation to go and win it again. It’s been tough today, but we go again tomorrow.”

For those suggesting nerves might have crept in during the Clayton match, Littler was quick to dismiss the idea. “People might have said I was nervous – I wasn’t. I just had to dig in and find the gears. If it went 4–0, completely different story. But I always back myself in these situations.”

With a packed calendar leading into December, Littler already has one eye on the biggest stage of all – Alexandra Palace.

“Obviously that’s the main one, and it’s not far away,” he admitted. “From now until the Worlds I’ve only got two weekends off – that’s it. It’s just all darts. Then we get a week or two in January before the first game. Of course I’m looking forward to it, but there are still so many majors left to compete in before then.”

Littler’s reward for battling past Whitlock and Clayton is a quarter-final clash with former European Champion Ross Smith, who impressed with wins over New Zealand’s Jonny Tata and Dave Chisnall to book his spot in the last eight.

It sets up a fascinating showdown, with both men known for their scoring power and fast-paced rhythm on stage.

For Littler, the focus now is on rest, recovery, and finding another gear when it matters most. “Just rest well and see who I’m playing. The longer format definitely suits me, and hopefully I can play better than I did today,” he said with a wry smile.