Luke Littler said he was “spurred on” by Manchester United being knocked out of the FA Cup as he beat Jonny Clayton en route to claiming his maiden UK Open title on Sunday.
The 18-year-old world champion and United fan triumphed over James Wade in the final in Minehead having got past Clayton 11-6 in the last four.
During that semi-final, United lost their FA Cup fifth round tie against Fulham on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
And Littler told ITV Sport after the Clayton match: “I am happy, obviously I’m into the final at my third attempt at the UK Open.
“But second break I heard about the Manchester United loss, so it spurred me on a bit, won the next five, and then I only needed one leg and I got the job done.
“Before I walked on it went to penalties, the first break I didn’t think anything of it and then the second break and then the third session was unbelievable, having that five leg gap. You have to go off stage and come on knowing you need to win that one leg, and I managed to get it.”
The final saw Littler sweep past veteran Wade, a three-time former UK Open champion, 11-2.
Wade had been in vintage form earlier in the day, knocking out world number one Luke Humphries during the afternoon session before brushing aside Josh Rock 11-2 in the semi-finals.
Littler, though, built on an early break to take a commanding 5-0 lead into the first interval.
He never looked back, forging ahead as Wade struggled to find his range, winning another four consecutive legs before ‘The Machine’ – who appeared to stab himself in his throwing left hand with one of his own darts – finally got on the board at 9-1.
However, that was only delaying the inevitable and, after 41-year-old Wade picked up another score in the 12th leg, Littler eventually got the job done after twice missing at double 12 to claim yet another title and the £110,000 top prize.
“It is one I have wanted to win,” Littler said. “It is my third time here. I came here two years ago as a 16-year-old, last year I was in the quarter-final and now I have gone two better this year to win it.
“I had a job to do, I just wanted to pick up the trophy and it is one I can tick off the list now.”
Littler added: “I am looking at the Premier League (in which he is defending champion), making sure I’m in the top four and making sure I go to the O2 (for the play-offs).
“I have got the Pro Tour, the Players Championship and back to the Premier League, so it is going to be a long few weeks.”
Littler hit nine 180s and averaged 101.51 to Wade’s 88.06 in a one-sided final.
“I played well in the semis, in the final he just completely gassed me out,” said Wade.
“I’m the senior dart player, absolutely bashed me to bits. What can you do against that?
“He was the far superior player, as much as it kills me to admit it but it is what it is. For me, it is a great step in the right direction.
“Fair play to Luke – at the moment, he’s probably the best or the second-best darts player in the world comfortably.”
