1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,587 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,067 Speaker 1: from Newstalks. 3 00:00:11,627 --> 00:00:11,827 Speaker 2: Ed b. 4 00:00:13,387 --> 00:00:18,787 Speaker 3: Luke Littler is the youngest champion, youngest world champion in 5 00:00:18,907 --> 00:00:22,227 Speaker 3: dance history, to realize his dream, to achieve his destiny 6 00:00:22,747 --> 00:00:34,067 Speaker 3: to be world champed. Goodspin, Tasto, Besteration, Special Channers, Peza, 7 00:00:34,067 --> 00:00:39,667 Speaker 3: the great Y, col Vango, Bloke's the New Club. The 8 00:00:39,907 --> 00:00:43,107 Speaker 3: teen fager is champion of the world. 9 00:00:44,067 --> 00:00:45,547 Speaker 1: He is pez of them all. 10 00:00:46,467 --> 00:00:51,987 Speaker 3: It's just seventeen to claim the biggest prize in the sport. 11 00:00:52,187 --> 00:00:55,107 Speaker 3: They're remarkable. The seventeen year old yesterday beat three time 12 00:00:55,187 --> 00:00:58,547 Speaker 3: former world champion Michael van Goerwin seven leagues to three 13 00:00:59,107 --> 00:01:02,587 Speaker 3: in the final at London's Alexandra Palace. He was runner 14 00:01:02,667 --> 00:01:04,987 Speaker 3: up last year Luke Littler, but stepped up a level 15 00:01:05,027 --> 00:01:07,187 Speaker 3: and this year's to side a racing way four sets 16 00:01:07,227 --> 00:01:10,027 Speaker 3: to nil lead in the final and never letting Michael 17 00:01:10,107 --> 00:01:14,227 Speaker 3: van Goerwin get closer than three sets away. Let's bring 18 00:01:14,307 --> 00:01:18,507 Speaker 3: in host of the Key Week Darts podcast, Ben Francis. Ben, 19 00:01:18,787 --> 00:01:21,947 Speaker 3: can you somehow try to put into context for us 20 00:01:22,547 --> 00:01:26,227 Speaker 3: just how remarkable this is a seventeen year old winning 21 00:01:26,467 --> 00:01:28,627 Speaker 3: the World Darts Championship. 22 00:01:29,587 --> 00:01:30,987 Speaker 2: Well, I think the only way you can really some 23 00:01:31,147 --> 00:01:32,947 Speaker 2: it up is just as yourself. What were you doing 24 00:01:32,987 --> 00:01:35,107 Speaker 2: at seventeen and what was some of the your kasements 25 00:01:35,107 --> 00:01:37,587 Speaker 2: And I think would be something a world champion at 26 00:01:37,587 --> 00:01:40,507 Speaker 2: your event and even making over a million million pounds, 27 00:01:40,547 --> 00:01:43,707 Speaker 2: which are of course is the UK currency and prizemen. 28 00:01:44,427 --> 00:01:46,307 Speaker 2: None of us would have done that. So that's kind 29 00:01:46,347 --> 00:01:49,427 Speaker 2: of what it is. That the manner way that he 30 00:01:49,547 --> 00:01:51,907 Speaker 2: is paying at seventeen years old, it's something that I 31 00:01:51,987 --> 00:01:54,067 Speaker 2: don't think anyone's ever seen before. And you think it 32 00:01:54,107 --> 00:01:56,027 Speaker 2: back to the like so Phil Taylor, of course, well 33 00:01:56,027 --> 00:01:58,747 Speaker 2: before my time that people that know Phil Taylor, he 34 00:01:59,427 --> 00:02:02,427 Speaker 2: wasn't punching in one hundred averages at seventeen years old, 35 00:02:02,587 --> 00:02:04,707 Speaker 2: or he might have been, but not in World Championship final. 36 00:02:04,747 --> 00:02:06,107 Speaker 2: And that's just how it sums it up. And you 37 00:02:06,187 --> 00:02:09,547 Speaker 2: think been seventeen years old, you think, crikey, how much 38 00:02:09,587 --> 00:02:10,827 Speaker 2: long is he going to keep this up? For it 39 00:02:10,907 --> 00:02:12,107 Speaker 2: it's just simply sensational. 40 00:02:12,507 --> 00:02:16,587 Speaker 3: It's his fearlessness and his confidence as well. For me, Ben, 41 00:02:16,667 --> 00:02:20,507 Speaker 3: he was left at one point yesterday with a seventy finished. 42 00:02:20,507 --> 00:02:22,187 Speaker 3: There are lots of ways to clean that up. He 43 00:02:22,267 --> 00:02:24,587 Speaker 3: went bullseye double teen for goodness sake. 44 00:02:25,627 --> 00:02:27,587 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's kind of the stuff that we've seen 45 00:02:27,667 --> 00:02:30,067 Speaker 2: him do before. We've seen him do finishes. There was 46 00:02:30,107 --> 00:02:31,787 Speaker 2: one time we had one hundred and eleven left and 47 00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:34,427 Speaker 2: he went bullseye eleven bullseye and that's just unheard of, 48 00:02:34,587 --> 00:02:36,547 Speaker 2: you know, some of the way that he does things, 49 00:02:36,587 --> 00:02:39,067 Speaker 2: the confidence he has, and there were times during that 50 00:02:39,147 --> 00:02:42,667 Speaker 2: game we thought Michael van Gertallen was trying to match 51 00:02:42,747 --> 00:02:46,987 Speaker 2: that and tried ways he was trying to finish, finish 52 00:02:47,067 --> 00:02:49,187 Speaker 2: it off his scores and it just wasn't working because 53 00:02:49,187 --> 00:02:53,067 Speaker 2: there his board management was off and that really cost him. 54 00:02:53,067 --> 00:02:54,747 Speaker 2: And even just going back to that first leg when 55 00:02:54,747 --> 00:02:56,627 Speaker 2: he had two hundred and five left, hit the one eighty. 56 00:02:56,907 --> 00:02:59,467 Speaker 2: Probably did that a bit of confidence to show I'm 57 00:02:59,507 --> 00:03:01,027 Speaker 2: in charge here, but that really came back to fight 58 00:03:01,107 --> 00:03:03,387 Speaker 2: him because he couldn't even finish twenty five until attempts, 59 00:03:03,387 --> 00:03:06,347 Speaker 2: which in a final, and especially someone of his caliber, 60 00:03:06,547 --> 00:03:08,267 Speaker 2: he should be doing. But that was there was so 61 00:03:08,387 --> 00:03:11,827 Speaker 2: many incidents, sorry, where he was doing that in the 62 00:03:11,907 --> 00:03:13,747 Speaker 2: final and it kind of just came back and bet 63 00:03:13,827 --> 00:03:16,387 Speaker 2: him and the backside Luke Little just ran away with it. 64 00:03:16,467 --> 00:03:18,187 Speaker 2: And there was no coming back for Van Goirlin. 65 00:03:18,387 --> 00:03:20,987 Speaker 3: Did you think he was rattled by lit Ler? And 66 00:03:21,067 --> 00:03:23,107 Speaker 3: he's been around for a long time. Van Gouin, as 67 00:03:23,147 --> 00:03:26,267 Speaker 3: I say, three time former world champion was he wouldn't 68 00:03:26,307 --> 00:03:27,707 Speaker 3: have been rattled, would he. 69 00:03:28,707 --> 00:03:31,707 Speaker 2: I don't know if rattled was the right word. I 70 00:03:31,787 --> 00:03:33,507 Speaker 2: just go back to his confidence on the board. And 71 00:03:33,947 --> 00:03:36,267 Speaker 2: there's a saying in darts where they say triples for show, 72 00:03:36,387 --> 00:03:38,427 Speaker 2: doubles for dora. I know lots of other sports have 73 00:03:38,627 --> 00:03:41,667 Speaker 2: very similar sayings that you. Van Girlin was very good 74 00:03:41,667 --> 00:03:43,467 Speaker 2: at haading the trebles at certain stages, but he just 75 00:03:43,507 --> 00:03:45,827 Speaker 2: couldn't finish and that's what really let him down. And 76 00:03:46,267 --> 00:03:48,187 Speaker 2: I think he was getting a bit frustrated by that. 77 00:03:48,307 --> 00:03:51,387 Speaker 2: But just the composure of Luke Littler and even I 78 00:03:51,467 --> 00:03:54,027 Speaker 2: remember meeting him at the Yelling Darts Masters last year 79 00:03:54,107 --> 00:03:58,107 Speaker 2: and just the calmness on his shoulders and it's just crazy. 80 00:03:58,227 --> 00:04:01,067 Speaker 2: He's just a quiet kid from Warrington in the UK 81 00:04:01,267 --> 00:04:03,347 Speaker 2: and it's just incredible what he's able to do it. 82 00:04:03,987 --> 00:04:06,267 Speaker 2: I really don't know what our the comparator. It's almost 83 00:04:06,427 --> 00:04:08,827 Speaker 2: like if you're maybe for you Piney, you say something 84 00:04:08,907 --> 00:04:10,707 Speaker 2: like it would be like a messy or something like that. 85 00:04:10,747 --> 00:04:13,067 Speaker 2: At seventeen years old and he's just got the world 86 00:04:13,107 --> 00:04:15,027 Speaker 2: in front of him. It's just crazy to think what 87 00:04:15,147 --> 00:04:15,707 Speaker 2: he can achieve. 88 00:04:15,907 --> 00:04:17,987 Speaker 3: You've joined us on weekends Sport over the last two 89 00:04:18,107 --> 00:04:21,267 Speaker 3: or three weekends as the World Championships have been playing out. 90 00:04:21,627 --> 00:04:24,787 Speaker 3: You always liked the look of Luke. Did he at 91 00:04:24,827 --> 00:04:28,267 Speaker 3: all look troubled to you? Throughout the tournament? I can't 92 00:04:28,307 --> 00:04:31,227 Speaker 3: remember him being in any real trouble of elimination. 93 00:04:32,227 --> 00:04:34,627 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say trouble, but there was this match against 94 00:04:35,067 --> 00:04:38,307 Speaker 2: Ryan Joyce, who did push him a little bit, but 95 00:04:38,427 --> 00:04:40,547 Speaker 2: that's because Maryan Joyce is one of the best finishes 96 00:04:40,627 --> 00:04:43,387 Speaker 2: and darts and he was taking out some big shots 97 00:04:43,427 --> 00:04:45,787 Speaker 2: and that was keeping him in touch. But was scoring 98 00:04:45,867 --> 00:04:48,467 Speaker 2: throughout the entire tournament. I think he averaged one hundred 99 00:04:48,467 --> 00:04:50,827 Speaker 2: and five across the whole tournament, which is roughly what 100 00:04:50,907 --> 00:04:52,427 Speaker 2: he had in the final as well, and that just 101 00:04:52,467 --> 00:04:55,627 Speaker 2: felt little bit of extra scoring power just kept them 102 00:04:55,747 --> 00:04:58,547 Speaker 2: enough in front. And then his ability to finish on 103 00:04:58,747 --> 00:05:01,707 Speaker 2: his favorite doubles double ten, which he absolutely smashed every 104 00:05:01,707 --> 00:05:03,587 Speaker 2: single time. He pretty much threw it at in the final, 105 00:05:04,027 --> 00:05:05,667 Speaker 2: which is pretty much what got him over the line. 106 00:05:06,027 --> 00:05:09,907 Speaker 2: They say the triples to show doubles to dot darts. 107 00:05:09,747 --> 00:05:13,107 Speaker 3: Is a sport where age isn't really a barrier, right, 108 00:05:13,187 --> 00:05:17,667 Speaker 3: I mean, having achieved this, it's seventeen, what could Luke 109 00:05:17,707 --> 00:05:18,707 Speaker 3: Littley go on to do? 110 00:05:20,267 --> 00:05:22,107 Speaker 2: Well? That's the crazy thing, isn't it. You think you 111 00:05:22,227 --> 00:05:24,467 Speaker 2: think of Phil Taylor and all his world titles that 112 00:05:24,587 --> 00:05:26,787 Speaker 2: he won, and you think, at seventeen years old, he'd 113 00:05:26,827 --> 00:05:28,507 Speaker 2: definitely give it a good run for his money. But 114 00:05:28,867 --> 00:05:30,467 Speaker 2: at the same time, there's a lot of money in 115 00:05:30,547 --> 00:05:32,347 Speaker 2: the sport now, and like a lot of sports, it's 116 00:05:32,387 --> 00:05:34,747 Speaker 2: only getting bigger and bigger. And you might think for 117 00:05:34,827 --> 00:05:36,707 Speaker 2: someone like Lutal, he might only want to do this 118 00:05:36,827 --> 00:05:38,827 Speaker 2: the tenth fifteen You who knows, and he might think, 119 00:05:38,867 --> 00:05:41,827 Speaker 2: you know what, that's enough, but I'm done. But you think, surely, 120 00:05:41,867 --> 00:05:44,387 Speaker 2: if if you've got all those heady ahead of you, 121 00:05:44,467 --> 00:05:45,987 Speaker 2: you're going to think, surely I'm going to go for it. 122 00:05:46,067 --> 00:05:48,107 Speaker 2: Surely you're going to go break the record, which most 123 00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:51,627 Speaker 2: people in sport would say is unbreakable. Seventeen world titles 124 00:05:51,747 --> 00:05:54,107 Speaker 2: is just simply sensational. But he can definitely give it 125 00:05:54,147 --> 00:05:56,067 Speaker 2: a good run for his money. But he wants to 126 00:05:56,107 --> 00:05:57,947 Speaker 2: give it a just work at it slowly. He just 127 00:05:57,987 --> 00:06:01,107 Speaker 2: wants to win. He won ten titles across his first 128 00:06:01,147 --> 00:06:02,747 Speaker 2: season as a professional and he just wants to win 129 00:06:02,787 --> 00:06:04,667 Speaker 2: more than that. And no doubt we're going to see 130 00:06:04,747 --> 00:06:06,827 Speaker 2: him come to Aukland. That will be here as well, 131 00:06:06,827 --> 00:06:08,187 Speaker 2: and I have no doubt he'll want to give that 132 00:06:08,267 --> 00:06:09,427 Speaker 2: title a good shot as well. 133 00:06:09,547 --> 00:06:11,107 Speaker 3: Yea, I look forward to seeing him closer to home. 134 00:06:11,227 --> 00:06:13,827 Speaker 3: A couple of other storylines from the World Champs Stephen 135 00:06:13,867 --> 00:06:16,627 Speaker 3: Bunting through to the semi finals where he was beaten 136 00:06:16,707 --> 00:06:19,387 Speaker 3: by Luke Humphries, but he seems to have gained a 137 00:06:19,467 --> 00:06:21,347 Speaker 3: fair degree of popularity as well. 138 00:06:21,387 --> 00:06:25,507 Speaker 2: Stephen Bunting, Yeah, his story has been quite remarkable because 139 00:06:25,547 --> 00:06:27,507 Speaker 2: even going back a decade ago, he was here for 140 00:06:27,627 --> 00:06:30,307 Speaker 2: the inaugural are in New Zealand Arts Masters in Auckland 141 00:06:30,867 --> 00:06:32,507 Speaker 2: and he was one of the top players. Then he 142 00:06:32,547 --> 00:06:36,307 Speaker 2: felt away a little bit and if you go back 143 00:06:36,347 --> 00:06:38,107 Speaker 2: and look at some of the things in his past, 144 00:06:38,707 --> 00:06:40,347 Speaker 2: lots of people say he used to look like Peter 145 00:06:40,427 --> 00:06:42,747 Speaker 2: Griffin's family guy, and it was something that he kind 146 00:06:42,787 --> 00:06:44,627 Speaker 2: of played along with it. But as well, but then 147 00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:46,507 Speaker 2: he's kind of gotten that older. I think he's had 148 00:06:46,507 --> 00:06:47,907 Speaker 2: a couple of kids now and he's kind of thinking, no, 149 00:06:47,907 --> 00:06:49,387 Speaker 2: I wan to be a bit more professional about this, 150 00:06:49,587 --> 00:06:51,867 Speaker 2: and I think like a lot of players who go 151 00:06:51,947 --> 00:06:53,867 Speaker 2: through the ups and downs, and he's really put down 152 00:06:53,947 --> 00:06:55,947 Speaker 2: that momentum now and he's definitely been one of the 153 00:06:56,027 --> 00:06:58,867 Speaker 2: informed players of the last year. And there's a Premier 154 00:06:58,947 --> 00:07:01,387 Speaker 2: League announcement which is usually the eight best players in 155 00:07:01,467 --> 00:07:03,467 Speaker 2: the world coming up early next week, and I would 156 00:07:03,467 --> 00:07:05,027 Speaker 2: say he's definitely going to be in the running for 157 00:07:05,107 --> 00:07:06,947 Speaker 2: that based on how he's been last year. 158 00:07:07,227 --> 00:07:09,267 Speaker 3: And Luke Humphries I couldn't go back to back, got 159 00:07:09,307 --> 00:07:12,467 Speaker 3: nowhere near it, actually knocked out by Peter right in 160 00:07:12,547 --> 00:07:15,147 Speaker 3: the fourth round. Luke Humphrey's though too good a player 161 00:07:15,347 --> 00:07:18,267 Speaker 3: to not come again, Oh no doubt. 162 00:07:18,387 --> 00:07:20,987 Speaker 2: Lou Humphries is incredibly talented and I thing in that 163 00:07:21,347 --> 00:07:24,867 Speaker 2: game against Peter Wright. Peter Wright literally had every double 164 00:07:25,067 --> 00:07:27,147 Speaker 2: he threw ass and it was remarkable. It was one 165 00:07:27,147 --> 00:07:29,427 Speaker 2: of those performances with you think, man, even if he 166 00:07:29,507 --> 00:07:31,227 Speaker 2: was paint of Luke Letler, the way he was hitting 167 00:07:31,267 --> 00:07:33,987 Speaker 2: the doubles, Luke Letler might have even struggled against Peter Wright. 168 00:07:34,027 --> 00:07:36,587 Speaker 2: He was just everything that was coming his way. Then 169 00:07:36,627 --> 00:07:39,067 Speaker 2: you saw in the next round he was struggling to anything, 170 00:07:39,107 --> 00:07:41,467 Speaker 2: and that's what happens in sports sometimes. But I have 171 00:07:41,587 --> 00:07:43,467 Speaker 2: no doubt Luke Countries will bounce back. He's got a 172 00:07:43,627 --> 00:07:46,227 Speaker 2: decent lead at top of the rankings, so he's going 173 00:07:46,267 --> 00:07:48,227 Speaker 2: to be holding number one for a while. But heading 174 00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:50,707 Speaker 2: into the back end of next year and he's going 175 00:07:50,787 --> 00:07:53,147 Speaker 2: to be defending a lot of money, then he might 176 00:07:53,307 --> 00:07:54,867 Speaker 2: drop down a little bit, but I have no doubt 177 00:07:54,907 --> 00:07:56,627 Speaker 2: he'll come back. And he's definitely a guy that you 178 00:07:56,667 --> 00:07:58,867 Speaker 2: would expect to want at least a couple more world titles. 179 00:07:59,267 --> 00:08:01,227 Speaker 3: Great to get your analysis, Ben, Thanks for joining us 180 00:08:01,267 --> 00:08:03,387 Speaker 3: over the last two or three weeks and again today 181 00:08:03,787 --> 00:08:06,267 Speaker 3: we look forward to seeing what Luke Lutler might go 182 00:08:06,427 --> 00:08:08,787 Speaker 3: I want to do. Thanks for your time today is money. 183 00:08:08,827 --> 00:08:11,307 Speaker 3: Thanks being Ben Francis, their host of the Kiwi Darts 184 00:08:11,347 --> 00:08:15,507 Speaker 3: podcast and a really good contributor for us over the 185 00:08:15,587 --> 00:08:18,107 Speaker 3: last two three weeks. As the World Darts Championship has 186 00:08:18,267 --> 00:08:22,387 Speaker 3: been going on in London, Luke Littler world champion. Who 187 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:24,667 Speaker 3: knows what he might go on to achieve? What had 188 00:08:24,747 --> 00:08:28,387 Speaker 3: been say there's seventeen world titles for Phil Taylor, Well, 189 00:08:28,747 --> 00:08:33,387 Speaker 3: I guess you'd have to think it's possible. It seems unachievable, 190 00:08:33,427 --> 00:08:34,827 Speaker 3: doesn't it. But when you win your first one at 191 00:08:34,867 --> 00:08:37,627 Speaker 3: seventeen and a sport that doesn't really have age as 192 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:41,347 Speaker 3: a barrier, who knows what Luke Littler might achieve. 193 00:08:42,107 --> 00:08:45,267 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 194 00:08:45,387 --> 00:08:48,667 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 195 00:08:48,707 --> 00:08:50,307 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.