“The Nuke” wasn't in a downfall, but he wasn't at his best either.
His check-out accuracy was down. Doubles was elusive. He fluctuated in the last 16, Defeating unseeded Ryan Joyce 4-3.
But when it mattered, Littler wrested precision from frivolity.
What worries the opposition is that he is also beginning to find his happy place.
“I'll be honest, no nerves,” he said after his quarter-final victory over Nathan Aspinall 5-2.
“I play with absolute confidence and freedom.”
Stephen Ponting was hardly a speed bump in the semi-final to Littlet's bubbling momentum. He averaged 105.48, his highest level in the tournament this year, during his crushing 6-1 win over the world number five.
Now, Michael van Gerwen stands between Littler and Dart's biggest prize, with a £500,000 payout on the day.
The Dutchman is the youngest PDC world champion to date, having won the title as a 24-year-old in 2014.
That period was defined by Van Gerwen's titanic passing of the torch tussles with Phil Taylor, a rivalry that greatly fueled the rise of darts and saw him win three world titles.
Littler is the beneficiary, but he adds another story to the edifice.
He is already, by some distance, the most famous darts player in the world. Will he now become the best player?