Will Luke Littler successfully defend his World Grand Prix title? Can Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, James Wade or Ross Smith trouble the world No 1 in the unique double-in, double-out format? Littler will be hoping the home crowd at Leicester's Mattioli Arena is more welcoming after the two-time world champion was booed and whistled at during the World Series of Darts Finals exit in Amsterdam earlier this month.
The 19-year-old headed into the tournament chasing a historic clean sweep after winning the first six major titles of the season but suffered a crushing 10-4 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the last eight. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Stephen Bunting backed Littler, saying he has "changed" darts since bursting onto the scene a few years ago. "It's really hard, isn't it?
Obviously, Luke is the best player in the world. For whatever reason, the crowd got on his back, they didn't want him to do the [clean sweep]," said Bunting. "He was probably on edge, anyway, going into [the tournament].
Maybe in Germany, in Belgium, I've had it a few times where the crowd has whistled out. "If you let the crowd know they're getting to you, it can be 10 times worse. It's a hard one to say, but I don't like the whistling.
I'd rather have someone shouting abuse at me than whistling. "It's a horrible noise to hear when you're trying to concentrate. But I understand it'll keep happening, no matter how much we talk about it.
"Punishments need to be brought in, maybe. Until that happens, it'll keep happening." Littler takes on Luke Woodhouse in the first round and if he wins he will go on to play either Nathan Aspinall or Kevin Doets in round two. Luke Humphries lost the World Grand Prix final two years ago but 'Cool Hand Luke' must at least match that run this time, otherwise he will surrender second place in the world rankings to Gian van Veen.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
