He then promised to the broadcaster’s host Emma Paton that he would attempt a nine-darter in the final two nights of the league stage, as he is yet to delight Premier League fans in such a manner. “I need to hit one,” he said. “I’ve already hit three this year and if I’m playing well then I know it’s going.”

With the form that the teenager is in, few would bet against him. Littler swept Nathan Aspinall, Michael Smith and Cross on his way to another nightly victory and Mardle believes that he is looking more confident than ever.

“I think Littler is playing the best in the world but this changes all the time,” he said. “He has a swagger. He seems to have come out of his shell. He is shushing the audience and there has been a change in him.”