Luke Littler shared that a remark from Ricardo Pietreczko motivated him to defeat the German 10-6 and secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals. Despite falling behind 3-1 to Pietreczko, Littler, also known as ‘The Nuke,’ staged a strong comeback, winning nine out of the next 12 legs with an impressive average to advance to the last eight in Minehead.
During the interval with the score tied at five each, Pietreczko’s comment fueled Littler’s determination. Littler recalled Pietreczko saying, “I was only looking forward to getting one leg and now I’ve got five,” which inspired Littler to push harder and ultimately win the game, showcasing his skills with confidence.
The young sensation, born in 2007, recently claimed the world No.1 title following his Grand Slam victory. With an average of 102.67 and six 180s in his latest performance, Littler displayed exceptional scoring abilities. He even recreated a memorable 121 finish that had caused tension between him and Pietreczko in a previous tournament.
Reflecting on his performance, Littler expressed that despite facing initial challenges, he managed to stay focused and secure the win. Although he acknowledged room for improvement in his doubles game, he remains optimistic about sharpening his skills for upcoming matches.
Up next, Littler is set to compete against world No.9 Chris Dobey in the quarter-final match. A potential victory could lead him to face the winner of Gerwyn Price versus Daryl Gurney in the semi-finals. The Players Championship Finals will also feature Nathan Aspinall against Josh Rock and James Wade against Jermaine Wattimena in the remaining quarter-final clashes.