The 16-year-old who's become the U.K.'s unlikely sports icon
He is only 16. But Luke Littler has risen to sudden stardom in Britain with an unlikely run that has him on the verge of a world title.
He is only 16. But Luke Littler has risen to sudden stardom in Britain with an unlikely run that has him on the verge of a world title.
Littler has become a sensation after making it into the World Darts Championship final as an unseeded player. Millions will be tuning in Wednesday to watch his bid to become the youngest winner of the sport’s most prestigious competition.
The teenager — who goes by “Luke TheNuke Littler” on Instagram, where he has amassed a following of more than 500,000 — has outclassed world champions on his way to the final, winning the hearts of raucous crowds at London’s Alexandra Palace and viewers across the country over the holiday period.
“No words! Crazy to think I’m in a World Championship final in my debut,” Littler told NBC’s U.K. partner network Sky Sports after his semifinal win against 2018 champion Rob Cross on Tuesday. “I was happy winning one game but I could go all the way!”
Littler’s fairy-tale ascent from youth world champion to the cusp of the senior title has transcended the world of darts, winning him fans and celebrity admirers across the U.K., with the British media dubbing him a “prodigy” on front pages.
Rating: 5