4 days ago
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Luke Littler jumping for joy at Australian Darts Master after experiencing ‘things that we probably won't ever do again'
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LUKE LITTLER hopes he is jumping for joy at the Australian Darts Masters – after a day feeding kangaroos and cuddling koalas.
The Nuke made hard work of his first appearance Down Under this summer as he eventually knocked out New Zealander Haupai Puha 6-5 following minimal practice.
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Luke Littler visited a zoo with Faith Millar
Credit: Instagram @lukethenukelittler
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He is set to compete in the Australian Darts Masters
Credit: Getty
The round-one tie went to a deciding leg and Littler, 18, averaged only 91.80 – well below his best – and squandered 13 of his 19 checkout attempts.
Being nine hours ahead of the UK, the jetlag has been an issue since he arrived in the country and he said he needed a decent kip.
Yet he has tried to make most of the popular tourist attractions, visiting Sydney's Opera House and then seeing the exotic animals at the Wollongong Zoo with girlfriend Faith.
Littler said: 'How's the jetlag? Oh, it's awful. Same as last year. Not slept too much over here.
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'I think I just stay up as long as you can until it's a suitable time to go to bed and that's what I've been trying to do. I feel okay now. Hopefully, I will sleep well.
'I went to the Opera. I went to the zoo in Wollongong. There were koala bears, we fed kangaroos, fed goats, and yeah, there were just loads of them all.
'I think for us players, I think it's good to get out of the hotel.
'Like 85-90% of the time, we're just stuck in a hotel, so it's good to get out and experience things that we probably won't ever do again.'
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Wellington-born Puha, 40, will be kicking himself for not knocking out wasteful Littler, especially as he led 2-0 and 4-3 in the race to six legs and threw first in the decider
The world No.94, who is set to lose his Tour Card, averaged 88.29 as Littler, like he did during his World Matchplay-winning run, started off sluggishly.
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His record of never losing in the first round of one of these global tournaments remains intact – for now at least.
There is a determination to lift this £30,000 World Series of Darts crown given he was pumped 8-1 in the final 12 months ago by Gerwyn Price.
Littler – who now plays top Aussie Damon Heta – said: 'It was a slow start but that's what happens when you don't practise from the Matchplay. Not picked up a dart.
'It wasn't the best from myself. That's what happens in the first game, it's not always the prettiest. I had to grind it out.
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Littler beat New Zealander Haupai Puha
Credit: Getty
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Luke Humphries will play Belgian ace Mike De Decker
Credit: Getty
'It's never easy against anyone and it's always good to just get off to a good start.
'I've just been chilling out and doing what I usually do. But now I'm here, it's down to work.'
Luke Humphries's lack of match practice showed as he came from behind to beat New Zealander Jonny Tata 6-3.
When the world No.1 nailed the winning double five, he pointed to the skies but he declined to elaborate on the meaning.
Asked about the significance of his actions, Cool Hand Luke said: 'Yeah, I can't talk about it right now. You'll find out. It's just bad news today that's all.
'I will enjoy these events with my dad. It's been hard for my dad recently.
'He has been going through a lot with other things that everyone will find out about soon.
'It has not been easy for him. So, it's nice to come over here and have a bit of time out.
'I'm on holiday straightaway, for 10 days, after I come back from New Zealand. After that I will put the practice in.'
Humphries, 30, now plays Belgian Mike De Decker, who complained about the cold conditions in his 6-2 win over Australian Brandon Weening.
The Real Deal, who averaged a pitiful 80.33, says he will wash his hands in hot water before the quarter-final clash, over the best of 11 legs, on Saturday at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
No.1 seed Stephen Bunting will play Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price, who wore an Australia gold-coloured shirt, faces Chris Dobey in the other quarters as all eight PDC stars progressed.
