Luke Littler reveals unusual reason he doesn't want to face Beau Greaves at Ally Pally World Championship

Luke Littler says he wants to avoid drawing Beau Greaves at this year's World Championship because most people will want her to win.

The 18-year-old is going into next month's festivities at Alexandra Palace on the heels of his Players Championship Finals triumph over Nathan Aspinall on Sunday.

His victory extended a supremely impressive year, during which he has won six majors and was recently crowned as the sport's world no.1.

But immediately after claiming the Players title, Littler offered a glimpse into his winning mentality as he vowed: 'I'm looking to the big one next month.'

The 'big one' in question? The World Championship, which Littler comes into with a target on his back having famously clinched the title last year at just 17 years and 347 days old.

Though he is the tournament's top seed and the overwhelming favourite to win it all again, 'The Nuke' admitted he does not want to see the three-time Women's World Champion's name drawn out the hat on Monday.

'I'll just see whoever I draw – there are loads of huge names and the seeds are in the first round now, so it's two games before Christmas,' the world no.1 said.

'I've just got to focus on the 11th and get my job done. But I don't think I'd like to play Beau Greaves in that first round because I don't think many people want me to win.'

It is little surprise Littler would want to avoid Greaves after her stunning victory over him at the World Youth Championships last month, but his reasoning is perhaps surprising.

Littler is still a fan-favourite, but 21-year-old Greaves has garnered a huge cult following and some top praise from some of the biggest faces in the game.

Greaves' victory over Littler brought huge attention and booked her a place in the World Youth Championships final. She did, however, lose 6-3 to defending champion Gian van Veen on Sunday.

The 21-year-old is the reigning three-time WDF Women's World Champion and the women's world no.1, and will undoubtedly have aspirations of going deep into next month's tournament.

It would represent a dramatic shift from Greaves' declaration last year that it was 'silly' to suggest she could compete with the top male darts players.

She said last year: 'Men's and ladies darts should be separate. I don't think any lady will ever go to Ally Pally and win that. If you think that, you're being silly.

'I just don't think we will ever be good enough to play against the likes of Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen or Luke Littler.'

She added: 'When I go to the Grand Slam I don't look forward to it because I know I have got to play men. I don't fancy my chances at all - I am just realistic.'

The 21-year-old had previously declined to compete in World Championships over her self-confessed fears that she doesn't belong on the stage.

She was also heavily complimented by Luke Humphries earlier this year, who said she 'belongs in this environment' after he narrowly beat Greaves in the UK Open.