Dart Prodigy Luke Littler, 16, Sets his Sights on World Darts Championship Final
Darts prodigy Luke Littler, 16, emerges from obscurity to make a remarkable journey towards clinching the prestigious World Darts Championship title
Just a few weeks ago, Luke Littler was a relatively unknown figure. However, he is now on the brink of securing a historic title at the World Darts Championship. The 16-year-old has risen to global stardom since his tournament debut this year, demonstrating his exceptional talent by defeating opponents with significantly more experience.
He now faces fellow Englishman Luke Humphries in Wednesdays final, where he has the chance to become the youngest player to ever win the title.
Luke Littler from England celebrates his victory in the quarterfinal match against Brendan Dolan from Northern Ireland at the World Darts Championship in London on Monday, January 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
After defeating former world champion Rob Cross in the semifinals on Tuesday, 16-year-old Littler expressed his disbelief to reporters, stating, "I've got no words." He is truly shaking up the heady and often bizarre orbit of the World Darts Championship.
"I can't even fathom holding that trophy just yet. I need to remain focused, stay calm, and simply be myself, Luke Littler."
Littler's outstanding performances at this year's competition have propelled him into a whole new level, where he has had to rapidly adapt to handling the pressure of being in the spotlight.
When scrolling through social media, you'll likely come across Littler, who has captivated the public with his relaxed demeanor and refreshingly ordinary lifestyle. Mentioning how Littler celebrates his victories with kebabs has only made him more beloved by the public, and he appears to be handling the attention with ease.
Route to the final
Gather the opinion of those involved in the darts world, and it becomes clear that Littler was always seen as having the potential to compete at this level. However, very few, including Littler himself, could have envisioned him being just one win away from lifting the trophy at this point in his career.
Littler's journey began with a decisive win against Christian Kist, showcasing his skill in a remarkable straight sets victory. While impressive, many doubted if the world junior champion could maintain this level of performance throughout the tournament.
The Littler steam train continued to chug along, leading to the defeat of the next player, Andrew Gilding. This victory secured Littler's return to the tournament after the short Christmas break, allowing the youngster to go back to being a typical 16-year-old.
"To be honest, it was just Xbox and more Xbox," he told reporters when asked how he spent his Christmas.
Following the break, the youngster began to attract more attention. His straight sets victory against Matt Campbell in the third round caught the eye and earned him a match against darts legend Raymond van Barneveld.
Van Barneveld, a Dutch veteran and one of the sport's greatest players, was Littler's childhood hero. However, the teenager put aside any sentimental feelings and easily defeated the 56-year-old, establishing himself as a strong contender for the title.
The quarterfinals then saw a face-off with Brendan Dolan, but Littler wasted no time in powering his way past the Northern Irishman. The match became the most watched quarterfinal in the tournament's history on We, with a peak audience of 1.4 million.
Littler has become a firm fan favorite during this year's tournament.
Zac Goodwin/AP
Unfazed by the growing noise and excitement, Littler remained composed and delivered what could be considered his best performance yet, defeating 2018 champion Cross in a match of exceptional quality.
"Winning this title would be incredible. My goal was just to win one game and make it to Christmas, and here I am still standing," Littler commented.
Away from the stage, Littler is just like any other teenager. When interviewed by CNN Sport before his third round match, he was softly-spoken and excited about the attention he was receiving on social media. However, when he's in front of a dartboard, Littler becomes a mature and fearless competitor, unphased by the lively Alexandra Palace crowd.
"I'm loving this," he exclaimed. "The crowd is chanting, drinks in hand, it's wild. It's hard to concentrate with them shouting your name, but you have to block it out and stay focused somehow."
With one more opponent to face, Humphries is likely to be his toughest challenge yet.
After defeating Scott Williams 6-0 in the semifinals, the 28-year-old has ascended to the top spot in the world rankings. Looking ahead to Wednesday's crucial opportunity, Humphries is completely focused on the upcoming challenge.
"When Luke [Littler] played so well tonight, I knew I had to deliver a standout performance. I'm pleased that every aspect of my game was as I had hoped, and this moment means a lot to me," he stated to reporters following his victory in the semifinals.
"Becoming world number one is something you can only dream of as a kid, but tomorrow would stay with me forever if I become World Champion, so my mind is fully focused on that."
