'Star gets born': 17-year-old sensation Luke Littler becomes youngest world darts champion ever
Luke Littler became the youngest world champion in darts history when the 17-year-old Englishman lived up to his billing as Britain’s latest sporting superstar.
The teenage sensation beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final at a boisterous Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Littler also took home the winner's check of $620,000 AUD.
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“Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy ... I can't believe it,” he said.
Luke Littler celebrates his win in the final. Getty
It completes the remarkable rise of Littler, a prodigy from Warrington in northwest England who first threw a dart as a toddler, was junior world champ in 2023 and reached the world final last year before losing to top-ranked Luke Humphries
That catapulted him to stardom, making him famous far beyond darts while lifting the sport into the mainstream like in its heyday in the 1980s.
Littler handled the huge pressure and expectation on him to return to the final 12 months later and powered 4-0 up in sets against Van Gerwen, a darts phenom himself as a youngster and with world titles in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
The popular Dutchman made it 4-1, 5-2 and 6-3, but Littler could not be stopped and he was reduced to tears after he made the winning double.
“Wow, wow, wow,” he could be seen saying.
“At 2-0 up, I started getting nervous - but I said to myself, ‘Relax.’ To get it over and done with is special.”
Van Gerwen was previously the youngest world champion in the elite Professional Darts Corporation competition, winning the 2014 final at age 24.
Michael van Gerwen during the final. Getty
The legend admitted losing his record “hurt” but was full of praise for Littler.
“Every 17 years a star gets born - and he is one of them,” Van Gerwen said.
Many were already wondering if Littler can reach Phil Taylor’s remarkable record of 16 world titles. Claiming a first title at age 17 will now super-charge that conversation.
“Luke Littler was forged into a winner, not just a great dart thrower,” John Part, a three-time world champion from Canada, told The Associated Press.
“He was the best at each age level he has gone through, so aware of how to win and he’s so comfortable with it. He doesn’t feel pressure at all."
