Luke Littler insists his sole focus is on completing the set of major trophies by winning the European Championship.
Littler is in Dortmund, trying to win the only big event he has yet to claim in a dominant first two years on the scene.
But the teenager is set to take part in a huge Netflix show next week where 24 players are vying to win £501,000 by beating him in a one-off leg.
‘Beat Luke Littler’ has become a major talking point this week after Fallon Sherrock, who reached the third round of the World Championship in 2020, and World Darts Federation number one Mitchell Lawrie were announced as contestants, a decision which has received significant backlash.
Littler, who posted a video of himself practising for the show earlier in the week, did not take direct questions on the subject, but says he is only worried about what happens in Germany this weekend.
He got off to a good start on Friday night with a 6-3 win over William O’Connor, setting up a second-round clash with Nathan Aspinall.
Asked by the Press Association whether his focus is on this tournament, he said: “This is the next one after the World Youths, so I knew how much time I would have off.
“Obviously, (I’ve played) a few exhibitions, but yeah, just obviously been chilling out, practicing, and this is the one I really want.”
The 19-year-old has not played since a surprise defeat in the World Youth Championship and has enjoyed the break.
“I think I’m more focused because of the amount of time we’ve had off,” he added. “I mean, I have not been doing too much, but I’ve been practising.
“I’ve just got to take it one game at a time, and obviously it’s the last one missing, so I can’t be putting too much pressure on myself.
“I’m just happy to get back on stage and do my job.”
After Luke Humphries withdrew with illness, Littler’s possible path to glory looks even easier as Michael van Gerwen crashed out on Friday night.
Van Gerwen is not the player of old and went out 6-3 to Dutch compatriot Kevin Doets.
Ryan Joyce also had a day to forget as he suffered a 6-3 defeat to Jermaine Wattimena.
Joyce travelled from the North East on Friday morning, but his luggage did not make it to Dortmund.
He had to borrow some darts from a local collector, who had a similar set to the one he uses.
But he found himself 5-0 down and faced darts for a whitewash before putting up a brief fightback.
Apsinall set up his tie with Littler by beating Cristo Reyes 6-3 while there were also wins for Josh Rock, Martin Schindler and Krzysztof Ratajski.
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