Luke Littler’s journey from stepping out at Ally Pally for the primary time to now could be nothing wanting exceptional.
The teenage prodigy first stepped on stage final yr as a 16-year-old prodigy, unfamiliar to the eyes of the watching world, with a ability set that had been raved about by consultants for years.
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He was ranked 164th on the planet and was and not using a PDC tour card, however his opening victory over Christian Kist started what proved to be a whirlwind Christmas and New 12 months for the sensational expertise.
Littler attracted large consideration for his unbelievable run which noticed him attain the 2024 World Championship closing, however he was denied a fairytale debut event by Luke Humphries.
However inside the two week interval, ‘The Nuke’ grew to become a celebrity, an actual rockstar of the oche, and earned his everlasting place on the planet of darts.
His lowly place on the PDC Order Of Advantage was short-lived, as an unbelievable yr on the pinnacle of the game adopted.
The actual fact he was a young person was straightforward to neglect, given how snug and comfortable he appeared when sending the group into raptures along with his tungsten magic.
Littler went on to win ten PDC senior titles in 2024, together with the Premier League, Grand Slam and World Collection of Darts Ultimate.
He has now risen up the rankings and sits reside at second on the PDC Order of Advantage.
This has seen him climb from an unbelievable 164th to no.2, a rise of 162 locations and he’s nonetheless solely simply 17.
And in what was the most important match of his profession to this point, Littler banked an additional £500,000 with a thumping victory over Van Gerwen, triumphing 7-3 at Alexandra Palace on Friday night time.
‘MVG’ has gained three world titles to date in his profession, and is arguably the second most profitable participant within the sport’s historical past to Phil Taylor.
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World Darts Championship prize cash breakdown
- Winner: £500,000
- Runner-up: £200,000
- Semi-finalist: £100,000
- Quarter-finalist: £50,000
- Fourth-round loser: £35,000
- Third-round loser: £25,000
- Second-round loser: £15,000
- First-round loser: £7,500
He first emerged as an identical younger celebrity changing into the game’s youngest ever PDC world champion aged 24, beating Peter Wright to assert the crown in 2014.
However Littler beat the file by seven years after taking the darts icon to the cleaners.
talkSPORT analyst and former PDC skilled participant Paul Nicholson believes {the teenager}’s rise is as uncommon as they arrive.
He instructed talkSPORT.com: “To see him rise to virtually the highest of the rankings is unbelievable within the area of a yr.
“It’s virtually like Wayne Rooney’s rise to the highest of the game.
“It’s unprecedented however nowadays it’s a case of trying on the alternatives.
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“The Junior Darts Company have afforded alternatives and uncovered competitors to younger stars like Littler to allow them to determine what to do.
“Seeing the nine-darter hit by Littler when he was a baby in Gibraltar, all of us thought he is likely to be higher than most.
“However I feel the publicity to stress conditions the place he doesn’t appear to buckle that has simply continued.
“It doesn’t matter what the stage is or prize is he simply needs to play.
“And if he can play and never really feel the stress the bounds are boundless.”
Van Gerwen was and continues to be seen as an inspirational determine within the sport.
Their conflict will little doubt grip present and future generations to return, with viewing information once more anticipated to tumble.
However Nicholson believes Littler himself was proven that path to success by earlier greats together with Van Gerwen himself.
“It’s moderately exceptional. We have now had some nice younger stars within the sport over time,” Nicholson stated.
“Michael Van Gerwen was 24 when he gained his first world title in 2014.
“And maybe what he did again then has impressed children to take up the game.
“That would embody Littler, he first picked up a dart on the age of seven.”
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Littler is sure to interrupt extra information for years to return.
“Not each little one is coming by and is sweet as Luke,” Nicholson added.
“There are some nice younger gamers with some nice potential.
“However to do what he’s doing now could be extraordinary however solely solution to discover out if anybody can is to remain tuned.
“The inspirational features Luke has given darts is unbelievable and who is aware of what’s subsequent.”
“However lets simply go together with the journey.”
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