On the finish of the second set of the ultimate of the World Darts Championship, the largest sport in one of many greatest indoor sports activities on this planet, Luke Littler calmly strolled off stage, gave his household a wry, realizing smile and rubbed his palms collectively like he had the prescient foresight of the beating he was about to dish out.
The person, no, the boy that 3,000 folks had crammed inside London’s Alexandra Palace to see produce historical past, plus hundreds of thousands extra watching at residence and in pubs across the UK and the world, was doing it not simply with dispassionate ease, or with flamboyant type, however with disdainful relish.
Darts finals have been gained extra handsomely — the game’s all-time nice Phil Taylor dished out three 7-0 whitewashes in his heyday — however not like this. By no means like this.
Luke Littler is 17. He has facial hair that males a few years his senior yearn to develop and in a sport that has its historical past rooted in pubs, Littler will not be but in a position to drink alcohol in a single.
And but he already carries the bravado and stage persona of somebody prepared to guide the game down roads it has by no means visited earlier than, which is strictly what he’s already doing.
Like Pele and Serena Williams, Littler has gained one among sport’s greatest prizes whereas nonetheless a young person (Ben Stansall/AFP through Getty Photos)
Littler has already helped push darts additional in the direction of the mainstream within the UK, with viewing figures on Sky Sports activities, a subscription service, up virtually 200 per cent for some tournaments in 2024, following report numbers of 4.8 million for final yr’s last (probably the most watched non-football occasion within the broadcaster’s historical past), which a then-16-year-old Littler misplaced to Luke Humphries.
Now, by changing into world champion, he has earned the proper to enter the pantheon of youthful sporting legends. Positive, Pele was good with a soccer at 17, however may he throw three treble-20s at a crimson, inexperienced and black board from virtually two-and-a-half metres away?
Serena Williams gained the US Open at 17, Ian Thorpe was the identical age when he gained Olympic gold within the pool, Sachin Tendulkar was 16 when he made his India debut and snooker magician Ronnie O’Sullivan was 17 when he gained the UK Championship. What units Littler aside in his specific area is that he has change into the best present participant on this planet in your entire sport earlier than he has change into an grownup.
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Why is he so good? Is it pure expertise? Properly, he’s been taking part in darts since his dad purchased him a magnetic dart board from the pound store when he was 18 months outdated. He’s not sufficiently old to vote, however he’s principally been practising for this second virtually his complete, quick life.
And it’s not all youthful exuberance and freshness, both. Littler had psychological scars from shedding final yr’s last regardless of being 4-2 up (he watched it again simply hours earlier than Friday’s match to recap what went incorrect), however he was relentless and cruel in his pursuit of victory right here in north London, bulldozing right into a 4-0 lead towards one of many best gamers to ever chuck an arrow, three-time champion Michael van Gerwen.
The teen later mentioned he felt nervous after taking that early lead, however his actions in obliterating among the finest gamers on this planet steered the precise reverse.
He unyieldingly hammered the treble mattress like he was utilizing a dart-sized jackhammer, ploughing good tiny holes within the helpless board as he sculpted his journey to greatness.
With the throwing palms of a sporting artist, Littler smiled and waved to the gang, speaking to them and himself all through, in full management of his personal future.
Littler surpassed Van Gerwen’s report because the youngest darts world champion in historical past (James Fearn/Getty Photos)
He didn’t simply attempt to win, he tried to supply darts from the Gods whereas he was at it. He saved leaving himself on 170, darts’ greatest outshot to win a leg, which occurred too regularly to not be deliberate. Darts gamers usually look pained after they miss a nine-darter (i.e. darting perfection of profitable a leg with the smallest doable variety of throws), however Littler simply gave a nonchalant shrug when he missed the seventh dart like he knew he would get one other probability.
A powerless Van Gerwen, the winner of 157 PDC (Skilled Darts Company) titles, may solely scowl and grimace like Dick Dastardly in a lime inexperienced shirt.
The Dutchman was as soon as the youngest world champion, aged 24. The symbolism of a weighty dart-shaped baton being handed to the subsequent era right here was irresistible.
Van Gerwen rallied, as champions do, clinging to Littler’s coattails as they swapped the subsequent six units, but it surely was by no means going to be sufficient in entrance of a deliriously partisan crowd, drunk on booze and throwing. He might give off the looks of a mix of Bond villains, half Blofeld along with his shiny bald head, half Jaws with a grille throughout his chops, however he may solely play the unhealthy man for thus lengthy towards a tidal wave of trebles and tons.
Littler was simply too good. Each time Van Gerwen got here up for air, {the teenager} pushed him again underwater with one hand and hit double 10 with the opposite.
“Wow… wow,” Littler mentioned to himself as he welled up having simply hit double 16 to win 7-3, verify the title and change into £500,000 ($621,056 at present conversion charges) richer. He muttered “I can’t believe it” thrice in his instant post-match interview.
“At 2-0 up, I began getting nervous, however I mentioned to myself, ‘Just relax’.
“That first game against Ryan Meikle, it’s the game that really mattered.”
Littler cried on stage after that second-round victory over Meikle earlier than Christmas. He broke down, couldn’t end an interview, left the stage and went to provide his mum a hug.
On the prepare journey all the way down to London earlier that day, he couldn’t watch for the match to begin, however when he threw his first dart he principally, paraphrasing his personal phrases, bottled it.
“I’ve never felt anything like that,” he later mentioned after composing himself. “It was a weird feeling… it’s the biggest stage out there. It was probably the toughest game I’ve played.”
To show his otherworldly nature, he had by some means produced the best set of darts ever seen within the historical past of the world championships on the finish of that “toughest” match, averaging greater than 140, however sure, he had began it like a glorified pub participant by his personal extremely excessive requirements.
“I’m thinking to myself; ‘What are you doing? Just relax’,” Littler mentioned.
Littler throughout his stroll out for the ultimate towards Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace (James Fearn/Getty Photos)
It’s no marvel, what with the big strain on his younger shoulders at being the favorite to raise the title aged simply 17, a traditional child from Runcorn, a small city close to Liverpool within the north-west of England, who eats kebabs and likes soccer.
Thereafter, all through virtually the entire match, he was imperious, reflecting the shape that noticed him rise from 164th to fourth on this planet rankings final yr.
Regardless of the unimaginable improve in cash, fame, reputation and publicity, the 1.5 million Instagram followers, the countless tv appearances and mixing it with Max Verstappen or his heroes at Manchester United, he stayed targeted, profitable 10 PDC titles, the Premier League, Grand Slam and World Collection finals, plus hitting 4 good nine-darters alongside the best way and incomes greater than £1million ($1.2m) in prize cash.
He was probably the most searched athlete of the yr on Google and the runner-up within the BBC Sports activities Persona of the Yr award.
“Littler has captivated people because he’s relatable,” Sky Sports activities darts presenter Emma Paton advised The Athletic earlier within the match. “He’s taken the game to completely different locations… Darts has by no means had this publicity earlier than. It’s not even due to what he’s executed within the sport, which has been ridiculous by the best way, but it surely’s the impression he’s had on it.
“In comparison with a whole lot of different sportspeople, darts gamers are refreshingly sincere and are principally simply being themselves and Luke is not any completely different. He’s only a child on the finish of the day.
“People have asked me, ‘What’s it like speaking to Luke Littler? It doesn’t seem like he has loads to say’. I’m like, ‘He’s just very chilled out, he doesn’t really care that much, he’s just a 17-year-old kid’.”
Darts obsessive Littler performs precisely like that, like a child having enjoyable on the stage, ticking off his personal private bucket listing of darting desires.
He has an uncanny skill to detach himself utterly from the enormity of the occasion, chat to the gang, ignore his opponent and simply play his personal sport, the outdated sporting cliche.
He relishes exhibiting off the abilities he’s honed over years of follow, increasing on the chances and limits that we thought the game beforehand had. He tries irregular setup pictures, he hits double-doubles or two bullseyes. He basically takes the follow board to the world stage.
After which, when he must, a steely glint of dedication emanates from his eyes and an unforgiving rhythm of 180s ensues. He can flip it on like few within the sport ever have earlier than.
An emotional Littler reacts after profitable the PDC World Championship (Ben Stansall/AFP through Getty Photos)
“I sometimes say, every 17 years a star gets born,” a humbled Van Gerwen mentioned. “He’s one of them… Every chance he got, every moment he had to hurt me, he did it.”
World champion, well-known, a millionaire. What on earth subsequent, apart from impending maturity?
“I just want to add to it, maybe get a few more,” Littler mentioned. “If I need the 16 (Taylor’s report of world titles), then I’m certain I may probably obtain it.
“I’ve been doing this since 18 months outdated on a magnetic board carrying a nappy.
“When I’d say to my mates I’ve got a darts competition, they’d be like, ‘Darts?!’ ‘Yeah, darts, have you not seen it?’”
They’re all seeing it now, due to an unassuming 17-year-old lad who can throw arrows like few ever have earlier than.
(High photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP through Getty Photos)
