'They want the underdog to win': Littler keeping cool as fans turn on defending champion

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/cross-r-zs8lbtNH/littler-l-0URN6Xks/summary/stats/?mid=80nkTXZ8"]The Nuke survived a mid-match surge[/a] from the former champion before closing with a level of scoring that bordered on absurd, finishing with a 106.58 average, an astonishing 17 maximums and a 43 per cent success rate on the doubles.[/p][p]However, for the first time on home soil, defending world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/littler-luke/0URN6Xks/"]Littler[/a] was on the receiving end of some hostile crowd reactions at the oche, rising to the bait in his post-match interview with [i][b]Sky Sports[/b],[/i] where he thanked the punters "for paying his prize money."[/p][embed guid="8fe70e8e-086b-41cd-941e-ebdbef3d97a5" url="https://x.com/SkySportsDarts/status/2005773414347247772" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I think that's the first time I've been at the World Championship that the crowd haven't wanted me to win, so I expect the worst on New Year's Day, whoever I do play,"[/b] Littler said in his press conference on Monday night.[/p][p][b]"Whatever happens, happens. I'm ready for New Year's Day.[/b][/p][video alt="Luke Littler round four post-match press conference" credit-line="PDC" guid="175af0b2-3286-4d66-896e-4acff9f9f6ed" id="02b4a8c1-83da-40e9-a8ed-0ea9e78c1555" /][p][b]"They want the underdog to win. I just had to get it out of the way and get my job done.[/b][/p][p][b]"Obviously, the fans, they've done what they've done. I've reacted as any other player would, really.[/b][/p][p]"I might have reacted a bit too early after that first set, and then when I came on for the second set, they're still at it, and I said, 'Yeah, you've done it a bit too early here.' But I just had to get on with the job."[/p][p][b]"All of us darts players are always going to show emotion, and we have every right to do so. [/b][/p][p][b]"Obviously, when you're in a game like that with a hostile crowd, you've just got to let it out."[/b][/p][embed guid="144bf79c-e3d5-4594-913b-eb444c16f6f3" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la05aDcnD3A" social-type="youtube" /][p]Poland's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ratajski-krzysztof/jNZjSeIT/"]Krzysztof Ratajski[/a] awaits Littler in the quarter-finals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/ratajski-k-jNZjSeIT/woodhouse-l-QyQzAjPh/summary/stats/?mid=EiKW9LcE"]after defeating Luke Woodhouse 4-2 during Tuesday's afternoon session[/a].[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/world/pdc-world-championship/"]Follow the PDC World Darts Championship with Flashscore![/a][/h2]