Luke Littler’s run captured the imagination. But what about arrows?
Written by Kieran Gill for MailOnline and Luke Augustus for MailOnline
Luke Humphries beat Luke Littler to become the new PDC World Champion.
Littler, 16, made headlines after breaking records after an incredible Ally Pally run.
Darts mania has taken over the UK and beyond following the exciting PDC World Darts Championship. The story of the tournament was undoubtedly 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler and his run to the final. He lost 7-4 to Luke Humphreys on Wednesday night, putting the sport into the mainstream consciousness.
But what’s next for sports, both professional and recreational? Mail Sport takes a look at what lies beneath all things darts.
Luke Humphreys won the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday.
Luke Humphreys won the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday.
The story of the tournament was that of finalist Luke Littler, aged 16, who won many hearts.
The story of the tournament was that of finalist Luke Littler, aged 16, who won many hearts.
Has PDC found a new broadcast location? Mail Sport can confirm that the PDC’s partnership with Sky Sports will end in November 2025. That means the next World Darts Championship will be the last, unless a new contract is agreed.
During the renewal negotiations, Sky faced competition. “Everyone wants to play darts,” a PDC official said on Thursday.
The last contract was signed in 2017 and of course PDC wants better terms to match the popularity of its products.
Sky viewing figures show the event at Alexandra Palace rivals attendances at a live Premier League match. As darts fever gripped the country, an audience of 3.71 million watched Luke ‘Grey Hand’ Humphries win his first World Darts Championship title. This is a 143% increase on the 2023 final made famous by Wayne Mardle’s ‘Darts’. “I can’t comment on Michael Smith’s nine arrows.
This record is also the highest for Sky Sports outside of football. Interest in Littler’s runner-up brought many new spectators to the sport, with his semi-final against 16-year-old Rob Cross becoming the first event on record.
Watched by more than 2.3 million fans, the teenager defeated Kroos 6-2 in the final game to become the tournament’s youngest finalist. With a peak audience of 3.71 million, ‘Col Hand’ Humphries won his first World Darts title.
With a peak audience of 3.71 million, ‘Col Hand’ Humphries won his first World Darts title.
Touching moments between Luke Littler and Luke Humphreys after the darts final
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Increase your prize pool
When Phil ‘The Force’ Taylor won the last of his 16 world titles in 2013, he took home £200,000. The champion will now receive £500,000. But the long-term plan is to give the world champion £1m.
PDC bosses believe this will inform the public that they can become millionaires if they reach their target height of 237cm. Darts Academy spread
Gone are the days when you had to go to the pub to pursue your darts career. Luke Littler has inspired youngsters across the country to take up darts.
Steve Brown runs the Junior Darts Corporation and has set up academies around the world from the UK to China, Australia and the USA. Kids grow from white shirts to black shirts, just like martial arts. With Littler’s sudden fame, the JDC was flooded with parents wanting to know where to send their kids to play. This is the question. Now that darts are no longer confined to smoky, beer-soaked bathrooms, more academies will be popping up.
Littler rose to the top from a young age and is now making a splash at the darts academy.
Littler rose to the top from a young age and is now making a splash at the darts academy.
Luke Littler claims he is “calm” and “confident”.
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Ally Pally is the home of darts.
The PDC understands the World Cup could be hosted elsewhere. And we saw boxing find a new home in Saudi Arabia. However, there are currently no plans to leave Alexandra Palace. Every year, the venue hosts the world’s biggest costume party, and bosses realize they risk losing the carnival atmosphere by hosting it somewhere else, such as the Middle East.
The atmosphere at Elli Pally is incomparable to anything Saudi Arabia strives to replicate.
The atmosphere at Elli Pally is incomparable to anything Saudi Arabia strives to replicate.
Sponsorship is increasing due to the popularity of darts
BetMGM will become the new title sponsor of Premier League Darts, the sport’s biggest roadshow event. Sponsors have now recognized the potential of this dart game and are keen to get involved.
To Paddy Power’s credit, this year’s World Darts Championships have been run more competently than ever before, with more money invested and the output being higher. Premier League Darts will have a new title sponsor this year in Bet MGM.
Premier League Darts will have a new title sponsor this year in Bet MGM.
It has also grown in popularity at the entertainment level.
Alongside traditional venues such as pubs, the introduction and growth of the popular Flight Club shop has enhanced the social experience of the sport.
Although we haven’t really seen an increase in visitors since Littler arrived, we still see an average of 29,000 guests per week. This is a big number. They also saw record sales in 12 flight clubs across the UK, which highlights the popularity of social darts for so many people, they exclusively told Mail Sport.
As of 2015, London Shoreditch has 20 branches worldwide in the UK, USA and Australia. “We love seeing all our fans dressed up in Ally Pally for a few days,” they said in a statement to Mail Sport.
“We love making darts accessible to beginners through game-changing technology. So you don’t have to be a professional to go online!”
The Flying Club welcomes an average of 29,000 guests a week in the UK and has proven popular with its social darts.
The Flying Club welcomes an average of 29,000 guests a week in the UK and has proven popular with its social darts.
Buy as many dartboards as you can!
TV viewership (see previous section) is the most obvious indicator of sports growth, but there’s more to it than that. Although Christmas is over, many people buy darts and dartboards as belated gifts. For example, research by Argos found that the number of darts and dartboards viewed online on websites is increasing by 40% year-on-year as fans become fascinated by the drama on the field. Luke Littler’s fairytale run has captured the public’s imagination. But what about arrows? A £1m prize, to stay at Ally Pally instead of moving to Saudi Arabia… And when Sky’s contract expires, will the PDC find a new TV home?
