Luke Littler Faces Backlash Over Controversial Move at Australian Darts Masters
World champion Luke Littler is at the center of controversy following a heated opening match at the Australian Darts Masters, where he narrowly defeated New Zealand’s Haupai Puha 6-5 in a thrilling final-leg showdown. The teenage darting sensation ignited debate during the eleventh leg by intentionally aiming for a single one instead of maximizing his score, setting himself up for a potential ‘Big Fish’ checkout of 170.
Controversial Tactics Draw Criticism
The incident sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with fans labeling Littler’s actions as disrespectful to his opponent during a tense match. This pivotal moment unfolded when Littler, needing 291 points in the penultimate leg, hit two treble 20s. Spectators expected him to complete a 180 with a third dart, but he chose to aim for a single one instead.
This strategy aimed to leave him with a 170 finish opportunity, known in the darts community as the ‘Big Fish.’ Unfortunately for Littler, his final dart just missed the bullseye, leaving the door open for Puha, who capitalized on the situation to level the match at 5-5, despite having trailed earlier in the game.
Social Media Reaction
Fans quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their opinions. User @Wim_NL180 remarked, "Hitting a single 1 on purpose to leave 170 is just disrespectful to your opponent, in my opinion." Another user, @danstapleton89, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Absolutely. While I understand it’s a glorified exhibition, Haupai is a tour card holder, and this competition means a lot to him." @DanJones3142 questioned the defenders of Littler, saying, "How can anyone defend this? It’s professional darts, and it clearly isn’t playing to the best of your ability."
Littler Reflects on His Decision
When questioned about his controversial move, Littler seemed unsure. "I don’t even know," he admitted. "At that point, I was 5-4 up. Maybe I should have gone for the 180, knowing Haupai had the darts in the last leg, but I thought I’d leave it and finish it. If not, I’d have to break his throw in the last leg."
The world champion also acknowledged that his performance was below par, attributing it to inadequate preparation. "It wasn’t my best game, but that happens in the first match. I had to grind it out. Not much practice has been put in; people don’t see behind the scenes—body clock, not sleeping—it all has an effect," he shared with ITV.
Upcoming Challenges
Looking ahead, Littler faces a tough quarter-final against Australian favorite Damon Heta on Saturday. As the darts community continues to discuss his controversial tactics, all eyes will be on Littler to see how he performs in this next crucial match.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Australian Darts Masters and Luke Littler’s journey as he navigates through this high-stakes competition!
