WARRINGTON teenager Luke Littler created history as he was crowned World Darts Champion aged just 17.
It was a dream that few 17-year-olds could hope to achieve to be world champion in their chosen sport watched by a legion of loyal fans.
But Warrington teen darts player Luke the Nuke Littler made it come true tonight as he beat three times world champion Michael van Gerwen in the World Darts Championship.
Earlier, Littler’s coach Karl Holden had described the notion of a win as a “dream come true” for Littler as thousands of darts fans packed into London’s Alexandra Palace to watch the final.
Away from Ally Pally, thousands more darts fans were excitedly watching in pubs, homes and community centres screening the match.
Many of Littler’s supporters watching him on stage were dressed in purple and yellow as he entered to his trademark song Greenlight by Pitbull.
The youngster took the first set within 15 minutes and the second set 10 minutes later. He raced to victory with the first four sets in his clutches before 9 pm.
But his Dutch opponent was clearly not about to give up as he took the fifth set. Then Littler clawed back a win in the sixth set making it 5-1 as he punched the air in delight.
He lost the next set, however, as the scoreboard went to 5-2 with van Gerwen took the set. Littler responded by taking another set making it 6-2.
His opponent seized the ninth set making it 6-3. Shortly before 10 pm, he’d seized victory by reaching seven sets making it 7-3.
As winner of tonight’s prestigious world championship title Littler was the first player to take seven sets.
Littler became a household name when he was the youngest player to reach the World Darts Championship at the age of just 16.
A year ago, Littler was beaten by seven sets to four by Luke Humphries in the final, who has already been knocked out of this year’s competition.
Littler has also soared up the darts rankings – going from 164th favourite to the fourth best player in the world.
And at the Bahrain Darts Masters he has previously beaten van Gerwen when he secured his first Professional Darts Corporation senior title.
The road to the championships this time around was not all plain sailing.
Littler beat Ryan Meikle in his third-round victory but Ryan Joyce took him to a deciding set in their tie.
His quarter-final win against Nathan Aspinall was more assured.
The crunch semi-final match on Thursday night went to seven sets, with Littler beating Stephen Bunting 6-1.
The win is even more extraordinary as the Dutch opponent is ranked third in the world.
Littler will now soar above him as he becomes the second highest ranked player in the world.
The previous holder of the youngest player to win the title was his opponent tonight back in 2014 at the age of 24.
Had he beaten Littler it would have been his fourth title.
Littler has shaved seven years off this record. And he’s introduced the sport to a massive audience of loyal fans thanks to his talent and performances.
According to search engjne Google, Littler was the most searched for UK athlete of 2024.
He also won the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2024 and was runner up in the corporation’s Sports Personality of the Year.
Luke Littler was presented with his trophy by Sir Chris Hoy
THE MOMENT LUKE LITTLER WON THE WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Rgde1bGAmH
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) January 3, 2025
