Luke Littler has disclosed that Mensur Suljovic had predicted they would face each other in round three of the World Darts Championship before the tournament commenced. Littler, aged 18, advanced in the competition by defeating Welsh player David Davies in straight sets.
Despite being the favored contender at Alexandra Palace, Littler’s path to victory appeared more promising as Gerwyn Price, a potential rival in his quarter of the draw, was eliminated by Wesley Plaisier. Suljovic also secured a win against Joe Cullen in a contentious match during the afternoon session.
Cullen expressed frustration with Suljovic’s deliberate playing pace, accusing him of ‘cheating’ on social media. Suljovic brushed off the criticism and focused on his upcoming matches.
Anticipating a showdown with Littler, Suljovic had conveyed his intentions even before the tournament began. Following Littler’s triumph over Davies, the young player revealed receiving a brief message from the 53-year-old.
During a post-match interview, Littler shared the amusing message he received from Suljovic, stating, “I watched it this afternoon and Mensur, he played well. No one knows this. When the tournament draw came out, he messaged me and said: ‘See you in round three.’ So Mensur, let’s have a great game.”
In contrast, Cullen’s experience against Suljovic was less amicable, as he openly displayed frustration with the Serbian player’s pace, even resorting to sarcastic gestures and post-match criticism on social media.
Littler’s prospects improved further as potential challengers, including Ryan Joyce and Chris Dobey, faced defeats in the championship, making his journey to the final appear more favorable.
The PDC World Darts Championship commenced on December 11, with live streaming available exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.