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Littler’s Near Nine-Darter and Pyke’s ‘Rubbish’ Quip in Newcastle Premier League Darts
Rising darts sensation Luke Littler showcased his brilliance at the Newcastle Premier League Darts event, securing a dominant victory over Stephen Bunting, although a near-perfect nine-dart attempt drew a playful “rubbish” remark from Sky Sports pundit Stuart Pyke. The highly anticipated match, part of the Premier League’s return to Newcastle on Thursday evening, saw ‘The Nuke’ Littler in formidable form, dispatching Bunting in a swift six legs within just ten minutes, progressing effortlessly to the subsequent round of the competition.
Spectacular Start and Crowd Interaction
Littler commenced the match with blistering pace, coming remarkably close to achieving a coveted nine-dart finish in the very first leg. He landed six faultless arrows, only to narrowly miss his seventh, an attempt that was met with light-hearted jeers from the Newcastle crowd. The reigning world championship runner-up embraced the moment, even engaging with the spectators in a show of good sportsmanship.
Pyke’s Jocular Remark and Subsequent Praise
Had Littler succeeded, it would have marked his second nine-dart finish in the Premier League campaign, following his previous success in Cardiff the prior week. Commentating from Newcastle, Pyke expressed astonishment as Littler approached the nine-dart feat.
“Surely not again, a nine-darter like in the Cardiff final,” Pyke exclaimed, just moments before Littler’s seventh dart strayed slightly high. It was at this juncture that Pyke humorously quipped, “Rubbish!” The jesting remark was immediately clarified as light-hearted, with Pyke swiftly showering Littler with praise.
“Wow, he is absolutely something else, isn’t he?” Pyke continued, adding, “This young man, week after week, tournament after tournament, he simply electrifies the stage.”
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Littler’s Premier League Dominance
Prior to his encounter with Bunting, Littler held a significant six-point lead at the summit of the Premier League standings, boasting three nightly victories. He stands as the clear favourite to secure the Premier League title, having already established a considerable advantage over his closest rivals in the competition.
Bunting’s Challenging Season
In stark contrast, Bunting has endured a difficult Premier League season, failing to secure any points in the initial eight nights of competition. Following his seventh consecutive defeat the previous week against Chris Dobey, Bunting conveyed his disappointment on social media.
“Absolutely gutted. So sorry to all who support me,” Bunting wrote. “Practiced incredibly well tonight and regrettably it just didn’t materialise on the stage. I’ll continue to give it my all and maintain belief.”
Humphries’ Insight into Bunting’s Form
Fellow darts professional Luke Humphries recently offered a candid perspective on Bunting’s struggles, stating to talkSPORT, “We’re very close friends, so naturally when things aren’t progressing positively for him, he seeks my advice.
“His manager inquired, ‘Could you possibly have a word with Stephen and offer him a bit of encouragement?’, which I duly did. I suggested to him that perhaps his walk-on song might be subtly affecting his initial performance at the start of matches.”
Humphries elaborated, “Nathan [Aspinall] experienced a similar phenomenon and explained that the initial surge of energy from the walk-on music is so intense that it can take a couple of legs to regain composure. When you experience that significant adrenaline rush, the opening legs can be a period of adjustment.”