ONE HUNDRED & QUAKEY

WORLD DARTS Tearful Luke beats oche jitters toset stunning tournament record

- MIKE WALTERS

LUKE LITTLER went from nought to 140 faster than F1 top dog Max Verstappen in a Grand Prix - and he believes he can go even higher.

But as the people's champion assessed his astonishing return to Alexandra Palace, he admitted the bottom almost fell out of his PDC World Championship. Campaign at the first hurdle.

Luke the Nuke went nuclear in the fourth set of his 3-1 win against ryan Meikle on Saturday night, posting a tournament record set average of 140.91 to clinch victory.

He had spent most of the contest struggling to step on the gas, but the bookies' favourite suddenly hit top gear and the numbers were mind-blowing.

Leg 1: 180-180-81-60 (11 darts). Leg 2: 180-180-129- 12 (10 darts, missed a nine-darter by wiring double 12). Leg 3: 139- 174-136-52 (11 darts, game set and match)

Players often claim their scoring in the practice room is offthe charts, but Littler's sudden change of gear sent out a clear warning to his rivals.

Strap in on the Littler roller-coaster.