Luke Littler fires back at crowd ‘who pay for his prize money’ after getting booed off at Worlds

Luke Littler temporarily 'turned heel' after hitting out at the crowd for booing him during his 4-2 win over Rob Cross.

The 18-year-old sporting sensation, who burst onto the scene just two years ago, was jeered by the hostile audience at Alexandra Palace, following his fourth-round World Championship victory into the quarter-finals.

It's the third time the world number one has reached the last eight of the competition, after producing a 106.58 average and 17 maximums.

"Am I bothered? Really, am I bothered?! Really not bothered!" Littler told Sky Sports after winning the eventful match.

"Can I just say one thing? You guys pay for the tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you, thank you for my money! Thank you for booing me. Thank you - come on!

"I've just seen the stats then but I wasn't really thinking of anything - I just wanted to win the game. It was hostile, nobody wanted me to win, but yet again I proved them wrong."

Littler later addressed his post-match interview and admitted that he 'lost [his head]'.

"Two years ago I think I would have started throwing my darts left-handed, but that is how much I have grown, how much I have matured," said 'The Nuke'.

Asking fans to put themselves in his position, he added: "I can still learn a lot. I can learn how to deal with the crowd, not let as much emotion out, just keep it all in me until that final dart.

"That’s the first time I’ve been at the World Championships and the crowd have not wanted me to win.

"I will expect the worst on New Year’s Day and whatever happens will happen.

"The fans did what they did, I reacted like any other player would, I think I might have reacted a bit too early on after the first set and when I came on for the second set I said to myself, ‘Yeah, you’ve reacted too early here.’"

While some viewers thought Littler was 'arrogant' and 'big headed' for what he said to the crowd, others thought it was great that the defending champion was showing some fight.

"A hostile environment for an 18-year-old and he came out on top," one person tweeted.

"Now THAT is the sign of a champion. Booing him you need to take a look at yourself really."

"Not surprised by Luke Littler’s reaction, you've just witnessed him hit a near 107 average and 17 180s, just to boo him. Embarrassing and rightly called out," a second penned.

While a third added: "We absolutely f**king hate successful sports people. Luke Littler has every f**king right to give it back as does any sports person at the top of their game. Don’t poke the bear."