WARRINGTON teenager Luke Littler returned to the World Darts Championship with a winning start on the iconic Ally Pally stage.
“Relax, I’m here,” declared the teenage darts sensation Luke “The Nuke” Littler as he thrilled the crowd by winning the opening set against Ryan Meikle on his much-anticipated return.
The 17-year-old was making his first appearance at the World Darts Championship since his stunning debut last year, where he reached the final at just 16.
Littler’s Return to Ally Pally
Littler’s dream of lifting the Sid Waddell trophy remains alive as he began his second campaign with a 3-1 victory over ‘The Barber’ Ryan Meikle. However, the win wasn’t as straightforward as many expected.
Meikle pushed the Warrington wonderkid to the limit, particularly in the opening stages, but Littler ultimately rose to the occasion, delivering a breathtaking performance in the fourth and final set.
Continues to Break Records
In that decisive set, Littler set a new all-time World Championship record with a staggering average of 140.91, surpassing Gerwyn Price’s previous record of 136.64, set in the 2021 final against Gary Anderson. Despite the brilliant finish, Littler admitted frustration with his slow start to the match.
Speaking after the game, Littler was asked whether he considers himself the best in the world when he’s at his peak. His response was characteristically humble:
“You could probably say that, but once again, I’m just me. I’ll never say I’m this; I’m that. I’m going to win all this. I just see where my darts land,” he told SportsBoom.com.
Chasing His Fifth Nine Darter
The second leg of the fourth set saw Littler tantalizingly close to a nine-dart finish, hitting eight perfect darts before narrowly missing double 12. With four nine-darters to his name this year—a record of most nine-darters hit in a calendar year that he shares with Gerwyn Price—Littler is eager to hit his fifth, particularly on the Ally Pally stage.
Earlier in the tournament, Christian Kist achieved the elusive nine-dart finish, triggering Paddy Power’s ‘Bigger 180’ campaign, which awards £60,000 split between the player, Prostate Cancer UK, and a lucky fan in the arena.
Littler revealed he watched Kist’s achievement at a friend’s house and admitted it fuelled his determination to achieve the same feat.
“I watched it at my friend’s house. I’ve not missed a session apart from the evening when Ryan Meikle played Fallon Sherrock [he was at the BBC SPOTY ceremony], and I just looked at my mates, I was like, how’s he done that?”
“He was nowhere near last year. It goes to show how well he’s played this year, so fair enough to him. He’s going to have a lovely vacation ahead,” Littler joked.
Career Defining Moment So Far
This year has been a whirlwind for Littler, who has shattered records and earned accolades, including becoming the youngest-ever Premier League champion and being crowned BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. He also earned the title of Google’s most-searched athlete of the year, surpassing global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Reflecting on his remarkable rise, Littler shared which moments stand out most in his career so far. While he appreciates the non-darts accolades, his focus remains firmly on his achievements on the oche.
“I’d like to say Bahrain, that was kind of my first competition back from the World Champs, and proved I weren’t a fluke.”
“And then, after I won the Premier League, all the doubters—that was probably the biggest win. So, winning the Premier League has been the biggest.”
With his sights set on further glory, Littler’s journey is just beginning. As he continues to break records and silence sceptics, the darts world can only sit back and marvel at what “The Nuke” will achieve next.
