The person he idolised is now amongst Littler’s rising military of followers, Van Barneveld having put {the teenager}’s meteoric rise into context when he mentioned on Friday: “Once I was 16, I used to be taking part in with Lego or Playmobil.”
There was a heat embrace between the pair as they took to the stage however each males rapidly obtained right down to enterprise, every hitting maximums with their second three darts in a primary leg gained unflinchingly by the teenager.
Van Barneveld instantly responded in variety however Littler rapidly seized management, holding his throw once more earlier than breaking his opponent with an 11-darter to safe the primary set.
It obtained higher for Littler at the beginning of the second as he ruthlessly punished a missed double-top checkout, prompting the primary chants of “You’ve obtained college within the morning” from the Alexandra Palace crowd.
Such was Littler’s dominance, he was capable of afford to overlook doubles of his personal as he held his throw, and though Van Barneveld pressured him to throw for the set, there was merely no signal of {the teenager} buckling as he stormed to a 2-0 lead with a 12-dart leg.
Much more worrying for Van Barneveld, he had the superior common within the second set however Littler’s ending was proving the distinction.
The theme continued in set three as Littler produced one other 12-dart leg on his personal throw and he appeared like breaking Van Barneveld once more till the Dutchman took full benefit of a bounce-out to degree.
Littler grimaced and 4 missed darts at a double adopted to permit Van Barneveld to say his first leg towards the throw of the match however the Dutchman missed two doubles to win the set to let {the teenager} off the hook.
The maximums have been additionally beginning to circulation from the Littler arm and he coolly secured the decider to maneuver to inside one set of victory.
Littler’s common soared to 110 within the third set however, as victory neared, his ending started to abandon him.
After the pair traded legs within the fourth, Littler nearly took out 170 earlier than lacking three darts to offer him an opportunity to throw for the match.
He recovered to take it to a decider – on the Van Barneveld throw – and duly produced a most however the Dutchman held his nerve to get a set on the board and keep away from the whitewash.
There have been no breaks of throw in what proved to be the ultimate set, with Littler sealing victory in outstanding trend by turning down a 170 end earlier than planting the profitable double.