The Nuke survived a mid-match surge from the former champion before closing with a level of scoring that bordered on absurd, finishing with a 106.58 average, an astonishing 17 maximums and a 43 per cent success rate on the doubles.
However, for the first time on home soil, defending world champion Littler was on the receiving end of some hostile crowd reactions at the oche, rising to the bait in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, where he thanked the punters "for paying his prize money."
"I think that's the first time I've been at the World Championship that the crowd haven't wanted me to win, so I expect the worst on New Year's Day, whoever I do play," Littler said in his press conference on Monday night.
"Whatever happens, happens. I'm ready for New Year's Day.
"They want the underdog to win. I just had to get it out of the way and get my job done.
"Obviously, the fans, they've done what they've done. I've reacted as any other player would, really.
"I might have reacted a bit too early after that first set, and then when I came on for the second set, they're still at it, and I said, 'Yeah, you've done it a bit too early here.' But I just had to get on with the job."
"All of us darts players are always going to show emotion, and we have every right to do so.
"Obviously, when you're in a game like that with a hostile crowd, you've just got to let it out."
Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski awaits Littler in the quarter-finals after defeating Luke Woodhouse 4-2 during Tuesday's afternoon session.