LUKE LITTLER played darts at the highest level in front of his gran for the first time on Thursday.
The 18-year-old faced in his first match of the evening at the AO Arena in Manchester – the closest venue to Warrington, his home town.
Despite , clinched a 6-3 victory to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
And he did so in front of his proud gran.
The World Champion's gran, 81, had never seen him play live in the before.
She was seen giving him a hug as he walked to the stage before his match against Price.
Littler's dad, Anthony Buckley, shared a picture of the moment on social media at the end of the evening and wrote: “Finally got me mum to the darts tonight at Manchester 81 years young to watch her grandson our Luke TheNuke Littler walk on as a world champion and get a win meant the world to me.”
After beating Price in his quarter-final, in the semis.
after beating the World No1 6-4 in the final to claim his first nightly win of the season.
After his victory, the Asp said: “I've got a few issues and sometimes it doesn't look pretty on TV, or whatever, but I found a way to cope with it.
“It affects me, but I'm winning and I'm winning tournaments and it's one of them, either quit and give up and go home or you own it and you make it part of the game, and that's what I've decided to do.
“And you know what? I'm so happy. I'm in a really good place. I'm winning. And tonight, you know what?
“Five weeks ago, well, I was really struggling. I said to Kirstie [his wife] I can't be doing this anymore and then the last three weeks I've proved why I'm still playing because I'm one of the best players in the world.
“I've been through an absolute horrendous two years. I'm a fighter, I'm a warrior.
“People call me a jack russell and I think that's why I'm here. But I don't know when I'm beaten.
“I will never ever give up and these last three weeks have proved why.”
