Darts commentator Mark Webster was unimpressed by the friendly nature of Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship semi-final win over Stephen Bunting. Both players routinely shared handshakes and fist bumps during Littler’s 6-1 rout.
The 17-year-old has advanced into successive World Championship finals and will face Michael van Gerwen in the Alexandra Palace showdown tomorrow evening. But while Littler’s performance was the highlight of the night, Sky Sports analyst Webster was frustrated to see so much hand-shaking between the two players.
Littler and Bunting shared a fist bump or a thumbs up each time they won a leg and at other key moments during the match.
As The Nuke went one leg up in the third set, commentator Dan Dawson remarked: “It’s a very friendly game of darts. There’s fist bumps and thumbs up and all sorts going on. But there is some brutality as well.”
Channelling his inner Roy Keane, Webster bluntly said: They’re fist-bumping a bit too much. It’s the semi-final of the World Championship! There’s a lot of respect up there. Maybe I’m just being a bit harsh.”
It is unlikely that finalist Van Gerwen will entertain the same handshakes with Littler. The Dutchman will not want to make the same mistake as Bunting, who allowed the youngster to become too comfortable. The final will not be as friendly as the second semi-final.
The respect between Littler and Nathan Aspinall was also notable during their quarter-final on Wednesday. The Premier League champion said afterwards: “Obviously each time we’ve won a set, we’ll give each other a fist bump. Once Kirk says game on, that’s when it’s game on. Afterwards, we’ll be fine.
“We’ve both played very well there. I’m so glad to win and the crowd were chanting for Nathan, they wanted the comeback. But I had to finish it.”
Littler was outstanding against Bunting, making the most of The Bullet’s frustrating errors. He reflected: “It’s been an amazing tournament so far … I haven’t been thinking about the title, just what was in front of me. Getting through each round, one game at a time.”
“I’ve won plenty of titles, but it’s all leading up to the big one … I can’t wait for tomorrow night. If we both turn up like we did tonight, it’s going to be good. We all know he’s hunting another world title. I’m hunting for my first.”