Suljovic dismissed these accusations and immediately focused on future matches. Nevertheless, he had been targeting a showdown with Littler since before the championship commenced.
Following Littler’s victory over Davies, the Nuke disclosed he had received a brief five-word text from the 53-year-old veteran. During his post-match press conference, when questioned about the prospect of meeting Suljovic, he revealed the audacious message he had received.
Littler said: “I watched it this afternoon and Mensur, he played well. No one knows this. When the tournament draw came out, he messaged me and said: ‘See you in round three.’ So Mensur, lets have a great game.”
Littler will undoubtedly be hoping he feels considerably better than Cullen did following his encounter with the seasoned player. ‘The Rockstar’ was absolutely furious with Suljovic’s pace and was spotted sarcastically glancing at his timepiece whilst also mouthing ‘hurry up.’
Following their match, Cullen paused mid-stride whilst departing the stage and delivered a withering glare at Suljovic, who was celebrating his victory at that moment. Subsequently, Cullen took to social media to condemn the Serbian’s conduct.
“If that’s darts, I don’t want no part of it,” Cullen said. “Always liked Mensur away from the board but that was plain for all to see! I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. The old guard will say it’s part of the game but word it how you will – it’s CHEATING! That’s not darts.”
The evening has proved exceptionally favourable for Littler. Cullen had been considered as someone capable of halting Littler’s title defence, whilst Ryan Joyce, who provided the teenager with his most challenging encounter in last year’s World Championship, was eliminated by Krzysztof Ratajski.
World No. 8 and another prospective quarter-final adversary Chris Dobey was also defeated by Andrew Gilding yesterday evening, rendering Littler’s path to the final considerably more promising on paper.