Luke away and you'll miss it

Littler needs little over 10 minutes to dish out major Leicester lashing

- BY DARREN WELLS

LUKE LITTLER delivered on his promise to bring the heat after blazing through his first-round opener in a World Grand Prix Darts thriller with Gian van Veen.

The reigning world champion took just over 10 minutes to book his spot in the next round despite Van Veen posting the highest ever average in the event's history.

Littler could not have asked for a trickier draw when he landed top qualifier Van Veen, who was 4-3 ahead in the head-to-head stats between them going into last night's tie.

And in a quickfire format suited to the Dutchman-the world's No.1 doubles player on recent form it had all the hallmarks of a potential banana skin for 18-year-old Littler. But as we've become accustomed, when the pressure is on, Littler only rises to the occasion.