Luke Littler revealed what Rob Cross told him on stage after the pair’s PDC World Darts Championship semi-final at Alexandra Palace.
On Tuesday, Littler continued his sensational run at the World Championships as he beat Rob Cross to storm into the tournament final.
The 16-year-old, playing in his first world championship, beat Cross 6-2 to set up Wednesday’s final against Luke Humphries.
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Littler, who has now earned some £200,000 at the tournament, is the youngest person to reach the final, overtaking Kirk Shepherd, who was five years his senior for his 2008 defeat to John Part.
Cross, who won on his Ally Pally debut in 2018, beating Phil Taylor in the final, was magnanimous in defeat.
Asked what Cross told him after the final dart, Littler told Sky Sports: “He just said ‘God bless, I respect you and do it’.
"I have no words, it's just crazy, that I'm in a World Championship final on my debut. I was happy winning one game but I could go all the way.
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"My target was to still be here after Christmas and now here I am in the final. I've just settled on the stage - once I find the rhythm, I'm good to go."
Asked about his preparation for Wednesday's final, Littler added: "I'll be doing what I've been doing.
“In the morning I'll go for my ham and cheese omelette and then come here, have a pizza and then prep on the board. That is what I've done every day."
Littler started the tournament ranked 164th in the world, and had a provisional ranking of 50 ahead of his semi-final against Cross.
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He could rise as high as ninth in the standings and earn £500,000 should he win the final.
Before making his tournament debut, the teenager had only played four senior matches at PDC premier events.
He now has the chance to become the World Championship’s youngest winner of all time, surpassing Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 years and nine months old for his first title in 2014.
However, Humphries will represent Littler’s toughest test so far, with the 28-year-old having become the new world number one after reaching the final for the first time.
Topics: Luke Littler, Darts
Chris Byfield