Russ Bray on his easy message to Luke Littler after Ally Pally last defeat
After overseeing his last-ever Ally Pally last following such an extended and distinguished profession, nobody would have blamed Russ Bray for absorbing the second.
But legendary referee, famend for his rasping ‘180’ bulletins, wasn’t pondering of himself when Luke Humphries nailed the match-winning double to clinch the Paddy Power World Championship for the primary time. Bray’s ideas have been with the gamers, congratulating Humphries and sharing a easy however essential piece of recommendation with runner-up Luke Littler.
“I just said ‘you’ve had a fantastic tournament. Take all the positives out of it, no negatives, you’re a brilliant dart player, look after yourself, have a lot of fun’,” Bray revealed to Daily Star Sport.
READ MORE: Premier League Darts preview – on sale now for Luke Littler’s debut marketing campaign
Premier League Darts Preview 2024
Kebab-loving Luke Littler took the World Championships by storm. Now the teenager sensation is taking his skills across the UK and Europe as he faces the large boys within the Premier League.
Venues shall be packed out to see the brand new darting icon tackle the most important names within the sport – Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwin, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall over the subsequent few months.
Our particular Premier League preview charts Littler’s astronomic rise, turns the highlight on his rivals for the coveted title, consists of an unique column from James Wade, interviews with legends of the sport, present Premier League gamers and PDC chairman Eddie Hearn – and it tells you all the pieces you want to know concerning the match.
“It’s the enjoyable component [that’s so important], after they begin dropping that and it turns into a chore. Or when it turns into your dwelling and also you’ve obtained to win, that’s when the strain is available in.
“But he was 16, the vitality working via that child’s veins should be super. I keep in mind after I was 16 and doing athletics [Bray was national level high jumper in his youth] all I needed to do was get out on the observe and practice. He’ll be like that and much more so.
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“And the money that comes with it, wow. He hasn’t got to do any manual work, be a brickie or go and work in an office. He can earn his living playing darts. As long as he keeps a level head, which I’m sure he will, I’m sure he’ll do very well.”
While Littler’s Ally Pally run surprised informal darts followers, most inside the sport weren’t particularly shocked by the teen’s exploits.
“I really wasn’t surprise,” added Bray, who will nonetheless name matches on the World Series and Asian Tour after going into semi-retirement. “I’d referred to as a number of of his video games within the youth stuff and I’d seen what he’d achieved on the MODUS Super Series. He’s obtained no concern.
“All they’ve obtained working via their veins [at that age] is adrenalin, [it’s like] ‘let’s go, let’s have it’. They don’t have a concern issue [and think] ‘what if I miss this?’
(Image: PDC)
“So it didn’t surprise me. You’ve also got to remember the player he’s playing too. They’ve got to have a great mindset. He played [Andrew] Gilding. Andrew’s got a very strong mindset but he must have been thinking, ‘oh no, I don’t want to lose to this kid’. So there was a lot of pressure on the people playing Luke Littler. Luke was under no pressure in a way.
“If he got beat, it’s wasn’t really a problem. With that attitude, he could go up there as free as a bird. Now, he’s got a target on his back and it’ll be interesting to see how he holds it together.”
A last in opposition to the brand new world primary was only a bridge too far for the Nuke. The consequence might have been so completely different had {the teenager} taken a set dart to go 5-2 up, however Littler gained’t have time to replicate on that close to miss in opposition to Humphries. Instead, it’s all about his debut season within the Premier League.
(Image: PDC)
Having been the darling of the Ally Pally crowd, he can’t count on the identical backing at venues like Cardiff, Rotterdam and in Scotland, the place Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright can count on fervent help.
Bray doesn’t assume Littler shall be fazed by any adversarial crowd response although. He stated: “Personally, I don’t assume he’ll fear an excessive amount of about it. It’s his first 12 months within the Premier League and he’s going to be very enthusiastic about enjoying week in, week out.
“I don’t assume that can fear him, but it surely’s a brand new side he’ll must get used to, having the gang in opposition to him and getting a number of boos when he’s going for a double as a result of a lot of the locations we go to are fairly partisan to their native participant.
(Image: Kelly Deckers/PDC))
“If he plays Gezzy [Price] in Cardiff, it’ll be interesting to see. The guys and girls in Scotland are very patriotic as well, so it’ll be very interesting. I’m really looking forward to watching it.”
Bray’s solely concern about Littler’s presence within the Premier League is an apparent one, with the teen just lately turning 17. Asked if he was shocked about Littler’s choice, he stated: “A bit of bit due to his age. Because of his expertise, no.
“The Premier League is about placing bums on seats. You get these folks saying, ‘so and so should get in because he’s within the prime no matter…’ Not essentially.
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“It goes on what’s going to be entertaining for the night, and Luke Littler is going to be entertaining. He’s quick and dynamic. Luke Humphries is the same. It’s about giving people entertainment.
“It’s hard, it’s brutal, even more so now because not only is it once a week, they have to be there on a Wednesday, the night before. Thursday they play and Friday they might be in Europe [for a European Tour event]. Play Saturday, Sunday, back Monday, home Tuesday, then on Wednesday back for the Premier League.”
“His age? I worry sometimes about burnout with younger players. Is it too much, too early? But he’s got a good management team and family behind him. I’m pretty sure he’ll be fine.”
