World darts champion at just 17 years old, the cold-blooded prodigy Luke Littler has captured the hearts of his fellow Britons, captivated by the rise of this charming teenager, lover of kebabs and video games.
On Friday, the English “prince” overthrew the Dutch “king” Michael van Gerwen and his three crowns (2014, 2017, and 2019) in the electrifying atmosphere of Alexandra Palace in London, becoming the youngest winner of the Championship of the World of Darts, a typically British passion.
Moved to tears, he raised the trophy in front of hundreds of excited supporters, many of whom were in disguise. “I can’t believe it,” he repeated incredulously.
The young bearded player in a purple polo shirt is no longer the unknown who surprised everyone by reaching the final at the same venue last year at just 16 years old.
At that time, the teenager had only played a handful of professional matches and was ranked just 164th in the world in this popular pub sport, mainly followed in the Anglo-Saxon world.
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Now, Littler shares the television screens with Hollywood stars and his exploits are analyzed, dissected, and highlighted by Sky Sports, who welcome the visibility brought by such a phenomenon.
Just a year ago, his final against Luke Humphries was the most-watched sporting event, outside of football, in the English channel’s 34-year history, with 4.8 million viewers.
With his skill and precision, the young shooter from the north of England stunned fans of these wild, alcohol-filled tournaments.
When the United Kingdom discovered him in early 2024, he had also created a sensation with his humor and frankness, revealing a way of life that is a world away from that of a professional athlete.
“I don’t get up until noon, I eat my ham and cheese omelette, then a pizza, and I work out,” he said, between two video game sessions.
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Impressively calm during his matches, the champion threw his first dart at just 18 months old and family videos show him still playing in a diaper.
“At ten he was already a lot stronger” than other kids his age, his former coach at the St Helens darts academy, Karl Holden, recalled to the BBC.
Residing in Warrington, between Manchester and Liverpool, Littler has won the sympathy of many athletes, the support of sponsors like Xbox, his favorite consoles, and now has more than 1.5 million subscribers on Instagram.
Kebab et Disney World
After winning ten trophies last year and being searched for on the internet more than the British king or prime minister, he was named the BBC’s Young Sportsman of the Year 2024.
On this occasion, the teenager with an imposing physique expressed his joy at having contributed to “changing this sport”, the number of academies for juniors of which has doubled since his rise.
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In response to rumors regarding his age, some British media even published photos of his birth certificate, confirming that Littler was indeed born on January 21, 2007.
The Englishman, who still must be officially accompanied by an adult to enter a bar, is now entirely devoted to his sport. According to Forbes magazine, he would have earned nearly 2.17 million CAD (1.46 million EUR) before tax in 2024 thanks to tournaments and sponsorships.
After his previous final, he indicated that he would not change his life and would always be happy with “a kebab and a can of Tango,” a soft drink, after a victory.
However, British media reported that the teenager had moved to a more comfortable home with his family and that they had treated themselves to a much-anticipated trip to Disney World in Florida.
