Teenage sensation Littler stuns Gilding as shock title bid gathers pace
The 16-year-old sensationally beat the 2012 BDO champion Christian Kirst on Wednesday and showed no signs of nerves as he put in a stirring display against the UK Open champion on Thursday evening.
Littler, the reigning world youth champion, is the third-youngest player to appear at the tournament and battled his way past his 53-year-old compatriot with a performance that belied his age.
His debut on the senior stage was highly anticipated given the promising teenager had excelled at youth level and has already secured his PDC Tour Card for next season.
He will next face Canadian Matt Campbell in the last 32 after Christmas.
"I think when I went two up I gave it a bit and lost all my energy. I was nervous as it is, I don't know how I got over the line but I've done it," Littler told Sky Sports.
"When I went 2-0 up I just put loads of pressure on my shoulders. But I've done it!"
Wayne Mardle, the 2021 World Championship semi-finalist, told Sky Sports on Wednesday that Littler is "probably the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen in my life."
"I have seen Adrian Lewis in full swing, Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, I have seen them all. I don't think I have ever seen the like," he said.
"We may never see the like again. We saw it with Phil Taylor and then we saw it with Michael van Gerwen. This may be the third coming of that. I don't know, but I'm a little bit carried away."
