Luke's got the minerals for it

CROSS FIRES WARNING BUT SAYS 'TITLES ARE WRITTEN IN THE STARS' FOR 16-YEAR-OLD ALLY PALLY SENSATION

- MIKE WALTERS

ROB CROSS tempered the whirlwind of hype around boy wonder Luke Littler and warned: "Don't put too much pressure on him."

Six years ago, Cross made a stunning debut at Alexandra Palace by winning the PDC Darts World Championship and sending all-time great Phil 'The Power' Taylor into retirement on the back of a hiding in the final.

At 16, 'Luke the Nuke' is already exercising the fairytale scriptwriters after stunning wins over Christian Kist and Andrew Gilding sent him soaring into the third round, where he will meet Matt Campbell after Christmas.

Cross (inset, below) believes it is "written in the stars" that Littler will turn his precocious talent into titles.

And if it doesn't happen for the Warrington whizzkid this year, it is only a matter of time.

But bigger tests of Littler's temperament, and longer courses of gruelling set play under the burning TV lights, await him as the tournament starts to pick up momentum.