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Luke Littler hopes to be well-rested for quarter-final clash in Dortmund

The clocks go back overnight and the 19-year-old plans to have a lie-in ahead of his meeting with Krzyszstof Ratajski.

Luke Littler was in imperious form during his win over Nathan Aspinall (Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC)
Luke Littler was in imperious form during his win over Nathan Aspinall (Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC)

Luke Littler hopes an extra hour in bed will help fire him to the European Championship title.

The 19-year-old is looking to complete the set of major tournament wins in less than three years by coming out on top in Dortmund on Sunday.

And he is in ominous form after firing the second-highest average in the tournament’s history, with 114.47 in his 10-5 victory over Nathan Aspinall.

He will return on Sunday afternoon for a quarter-final against Krzyszstof Ratajski boosted by a later playing time and the clocks going back overnight ahead of a possible evening session consisting of a semi-final and final.

“I’ve just been told I am last on, so about 4pm,” he said. “The clocks go back, so an extra hour in bed as well.

“Tomorrow afternoon will be the tough one. Waking up, getting up, playing in the afternoon.

“I just want to get the afternoon game out of the way and then I can look forward to the evening.

“Hopefully I can complete the set.”

Littler beat his good friend Nathan Aspinall in Dortmund (Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC)
Littler beat his good friend Nathan Aspinall in Dortmund (Sebastian Doppstadt/PDC)

This is just the third time Littler is playing in Germany this year having received abuse from the crowds in the past.

There was a minor incident midway through the match, which required referee Huw Ware to step in, but Littler has opened the door to ending his boycott.

“That’s the first thing that has happened,” he said. “Just before I went for bull on the 126, the front table just decided to bang really loud on the table.

“The guy that did it looked up, I pointed at him and said, ‘That’s you’.

“Then he just picked up his pen, started writing on his little 180 card and didn’t look up. So, he knew what he’d done.

“But that’s the first thing about all weekend, the crowd’s been very good.

“I’ve not been to Germany this year, apart from Berlin and Frankfurt, so it’s only the third time they’ve seen me.

“Obviously I want a good reception because I want to be doing European Tours next year in Germany.

“Whereas if they’re not good to me, then I won’t go. But so far, so good, and with the way I’m playing, hopefully they like it and I can produce maybe a bit better tomorrow.”

Stephen Bunting celebrated his passage to the quarter-finals by watching Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga action.

The Liverpudlian eased past Kim Huybrechts, firing four 100-plus checkouts in a 10-3 win to set up a last-eight showdown with Gerwyn Price on Sunday.

The Westfalenhalle arena is located next to Signal Iduna Park and Bunting made the short journey to watch Dortmund’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday evening.

Signal Iduna Park is opposite the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund (Nick Potts/PA)
Signal Iduna Park is opposite the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Archive)

Bunting, who supports Liverpool, has become a lucky mascot for the German giants and has never seen them lose.

“I think quite a few years ago now I went to the Bayern Munich and Dortmund game, and Dortmund won,” he said.

“Dortmund said, ‘Stephen Bunting’s been to our game, and we’ve never lost when Stephen Bunting’s there’.

“So yeah, I think they enjoy me going. I’ve been a few times now. I’ve got a great connection.”

Price made it through with a 10-4 victory over Cameron Menzies while defending champion Gian van Veen was dumped out by Luke Woodhouse, who was a 10-6 winner.

Ross Smith and Martin Schindler also made it through to the last eight.

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