PRESS REVIEW – At just 17 years old, Luke “The Nuke” won the title of world darts champion on Friday, reinforcing his star status across the Channel.
The new icon of English sport is him. At just 17 years old – a record for precocity – Luke Littler won the title of world darts champion on Friday by defeating Dutch legend Michael Van Gerwen, winner of the Worlds three times (2014, 2017, 2019), seven sets to three. The British prodigy, already a finalist but unhappy last year, wowed the enthusiastic fans at Alexandra Palace in London by offering a very high level of play, even stratospheric at times, to conclude the rounds with doubles (in especially the double 10). A major performance that the English press did not fail to highlight, under the spell of the “Prince” of the “darts”, moved to tears as he brandished his trophy.
«Luke, you are the Force», headline this Saturday The Mirrorobviously in reference to the chosen Jedi Luke Skywalker in the legendary Star Wars saga. “The boy becomes king», savors for his part The Sun, which highlights “one of the greatest performances that we can see from a young man of 17 years old, whatever the sport“. Darts, in this case, a discipline born in pubs, has been very popular for many years in Great Britain but has crossed borders since the arrival of Comet Littler. This is evidenced by the unprecedented television broadcast of these World Championships in France by The Team channel during the holidays.
“Historic turning point” for the “darts”
«Whatever Luke Littler's future in darts, fame or world peace, nothing will ever match the crystal clear beauty of this moment», formula The Guardian while le Daily Mail insists on the “historical turning point» for this sport. A phenomenon of skill and precision at 2.37 meters from the dartboard, Littler pocketed nearly 600,000 euros thanks to his title to increase his total winnings to 1.46 million euros (before tax) in 2024 , according to the magazine Forbeswhich dedicated its front page to him a few months ago.
The native of Runcorn (January 21, 2007), winner of ten tournaments during his first season on the world circuit (PDC Darts), has never hidden his lifestyle worthy of an average teenager containing PlayStation, kebabs, pizzas , can of Tango and, all the same, twenty minutes of training per day. A daily life that Luke “The Nuke” (“the nuclear bomb”) would not wish to upset, according to The Telegraphcontinuing to live with his parents in Warrington, in the northwest of England between Liverpool and Manchester. His next goal? Pass your driving test before diving back into the intense “darts” season.
No darts player before him had to deal with such attention and it would have been easy for him to collapse.
Sam Drury, BBC journalist
«It would be easy to say that this all seemed inevitable. Yet his success only increased the pressure to do even better, analyzes journalist Sam Drury in his editorial for the BBC. No darts player before him had to deal with such attention and it would have been easy for him to collapse. Instead, just weeks shy of his 18th birthday, Littler powered through the rounds and put together a mature and stunning display to defeat Van Gerwen.”
New British sports star, Luke Littler seems destined for a huge career. Will he be able to tickle the 14 world titles won by Phil Taylor, the absolute legend of darts? There is still a way to go but in any case, the force, and all of England, are with him.
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