Luke Littler bites his tongue in live TV interview after Wayne Mardle question
World darts champion Luke Littler had to hold himself back from answering one particular question during an interview before beginning his championship defence.
Luke Littler refused to name the players he knows he can beat before beginning his title defence at the World Darts Championship. The reigning champion wanted to name names but held himself back during a live television interview ahead of his first-round match.
Wayne Mardle raised the subject after asking Littler whether players act differently towards him now that he is the world No.1. The player-turned-pundit suggested that 'The Nuke' has now got certain players right where he wants them.
Littler said on Sky Sports: "Yeah, I think I've got a few players..." Mardle interjected to add: "You don't have to name them." The world champion replied: "No, I won't, I won't be doing that. But yeah, I know I can beat players as soon as I get on the stage. Obviously, I do want to name them, but no, we won't."
Littler and those in the Sky studio then began laughing after that exchange. They also asked the 18-year-old about players who could stop him this year, and Littler did name them this time.
He said: "Obviously, you've got Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, but I think just going off records and stuff, I think Gezzy (Gerwyn Price) is the hardest game. And yeah, he's in my quarter [of the draw].
"I think the start of last year he won five or six on the bounce, but at the minute I think I've won the last seven or eight, so I've got that over him. But we both know we can beat each other, and we had a really good game at the Grand Prix, but everyone is a danger."
The match Littler mentions saw him produce a remarkable comeback in a final-leg thriller after Price took an early two-set advantage. That win earned him a semi-final spot at the major, which he eventually won by beating Luke Humphries in the final.
Littler beat Humphries last time out at Alexandra Palace to win the Sid Waddell Trophy earlier this year. His defence started on night one of the championship, making light work of Darius Labanauskas.
He fully intends to retain his title. Littler said: "My form says that I could beat anyone right now. Ten years ago, Gary Anderson won back-to-back titles, and 10 years later, I'm standing here as the current champion, and I'm looking to go back-to-back myself."
"I've got that number one spot now, and hopefully I can have another tournament to remember this time around. I've won the last three big majors, and there's only one more to go in the year. It was my first big tournament at the Worlds, and with the crowd behind me, it feels like home at Ally Pally."
