Luke Littler Who made history as the youngest World Darts Championship finalist?
Luke Littler Who made history as the youngest World Darts Championship finalist?
World Darts debutant Luke Littler, 16, is set to become the youngest player to win the prestigious title at London’s Alexandra Palace. Beating former world champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross, Littler took home at least £200,000.
New Delhi: At the World Darts Championship, 16-year-old Luke Littler is all set to create history as the youngest player to win the prestigious title. Making his tour debut, Littler caused a stir with a stunning performance leading into the final where he will face Luke Humphreys at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The teenage sensation shocked the darts community by beating two former world champions, Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross, to win the minimum prize money of £200,000 ($250,000). If Littler wins against Humphreys, his earnings will increase further to £500,000 ($630,000).
Reflecting on his unexpected journey, Littler said: “Winning this title would be amazing. I set a goal to win a game and come back after Christmas, and that’s still the case.
But I can’t even imagine winning this award. “You have to focus, relax and be Luke Littler.”
Littler holds the distinction of being the youngest player ever to reach the finals and is poised to leave an indelible mark on the sport. Multiple champion Michael van Gerwen was previously the youngest winner of the World Darts Championship at the age of 24 in 2014. Littler’s surprise final appearance not only grabbed the attention of the darts world, but also headlines and celebrity fans, including Arsenal players Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale.
Littler’s showmanship on stage endeared him to audiences, and his down-to-earth, down-to-earth approach offstage endeared him even more to fans. As for preparing for the finals, she emphasized sticking to a routine that has worked well for her so far, including eating a ham and cheese omelet for breakfast, followed by pizza and plank exercises.
The final against Luke Humphreys will be an interesting encounter. Humphries took world number one after an impressive journey to the championship final. Regardless of the outcome, it cannot be ruled out that Littler will emerge as a contender for future major titles, marking a turning point in darts history.
Who is Luke Littler? Luke Littler, born 21 January 2007, was a pioneer in professional darts competing in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. At 16 years and 346 days, Littler is the youngest player to win both the WDF World Championship and the PDC World Championship. Notably, he is also the youngest player to reach the final of the PDC World Darts Championship, marking a historic milestone in the sport.
Littler’s journey with darts began when his father gave him a magnetic dart board when he was 18 months old. Originally from Runcorn and brought up in Warrington, Littler showed his incredible talent by landing his first 180 at the age of six and hitting nine darts at the age of 13.
Early in his career, Littler achieved considerable success, winning titles such as the British Junior Grand Prix and the Isle of Man Masters Junior Championship. His skills continued to shine in 2022, winning tournaments such as the JDC Super 16 and the Romanian Classic. A highlight of his achievements was winning the JDC World Darts Championship in December 2022, defeating Harry Gregory 5-0.
