At the End of the Second Set, the Biggest Game in One of the Biggest Indoor Sports in the World
Luke Littler calmly strolled off stage, gave his family a wry, knowing smile and rubbed his hands together like he had the prescient foresight of the beating he was about to dish out.
A Boy Wonder
The man, no, the boy that 3,000 people had crammed inside London’s Alexandra Palace to see produce history, plus millions more watching at home and in pubs around the UK and the world, was doing it not just with dispassionate ease, or with flamboyant style, but with disdainful relish.
Darts Finals Have Been Won More Handsomely
Darts finals have been won more handsomely — the sport’s all-time great Phil Taylor dished out three 7-0 whitewashes in his heyday — but not like this. Never like this.
A 17-Year-Old Phenom
Luke Littler is 17. He has facial hair that men many years his senior yearn to grow and in a sport that has its history rooted in pubs, Littler is not yet able to drink alcohol in one.
A Sport in Transition
And yet he already carries the bravado and stage persona of someone ready to lead the sport down roads it has never visited before, which is exactly what he is already doing.
Littler’s Rise to Fame
Littler has already helped push darts further towards the mainstream in the UK, with viewing figures on Sky Sports, a subscription service, up almost 200 per cent for some tournaments in 2024, following record numbers of 4.8 million for last year’s final (the most watched non-football event in the broadcaster’s history), which a then-16-year-old Littler lost to Luke Humphries.
A New Era in Darts
Now, by becoming world champion, he has earned the right to enter the pantheon of youthful sporting legends. Sure, Pele was good with a football at 17, but could he throw three treble-20s at a red, green and black board from almost two-and-a-half metres away?
Why Is He So Good?
Why is he so good? Is it natural talent? Well, he’s been playing darts since his dad bought him a magnetic dart board from the pound shop when he was 18 months old. He’s not old enough to vote, but he’s basically been practising for this moment almost his entire, short life.
A Relentless Pursuit of Victory
And it’s not all youthful exuberance and freshness, either. Littler had mental scars from losing last year’s final despite being 4-2 up (he watched it back just hours before Friday’s match to recap what went wrong), but he was relentless and merciless in his pursuit of victory here in north London, bulldozing into a 4-0 lead against one of the greatest players to ever chuck an arrow, three-time champion Michael van Gerwen.
A New Era for Darts
Littler was just too good. Whenever Van Gerwen came up for air, the teenager pushed him back underwater with one hand and hit double 10 with the other.
A Future Full of Possibilities
“Wow… wow,” Littler said to himself as he welled up having just hit double 16 to win 7-3, confirm the title and become £500,000 ($621,056 at current conversion rates) richer. He muttered “I can’t believe it” three times in his immediate post-match interview.
Conclusion
Littler has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of darts, and his future is full of possibilities. With his talent, dedication, and passion for the sport, he is sure to continue to make a name for himself and push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of darts.
FAQs
Q: What is Luke Littler’s age?
A: Luke Littler is 17 years old.
Q: How did Luke Littler become a professional darts player?
A: Luke Littler started playing darts at a young age, and his dad bought him a magnetic dart board from the pound shop when he was 18 months old. He has been practicing ever since and has risen through the ranks to become a professional darts player.
Q: What is Luke Littler’s record in the PDC World Championship?
A: Luke Littler won the PDC World Championship in 2024, becoming the youngest player to ever win the title.
Q: What is Luke Littler’s current ranking in the PDC World Rankings?
A: Luke Littler is currently ranked fourth in the PDC World Rankings.
Q: What is Luke Littler’s net worth?
A: Luke Littler’s net worth is estimated to be around £1 million ($1.2 million).