2 days Ago By The Telegraph
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has been called an inspiration by Prime Minister Keir Starmer after becoming world champion at the age of just 17. With Littler starting a revolution in darts that has caused thousands of children to take up the sport, Starmer sent an instant message of congratulations after he became the youngest champion in the history of his sport. “Mesmerising performance,” said Starmer.
“Congratulations. An inspirational performance under such pressure to lift the trophy. You should be really proud of what you’ve achieved tonight, not just for yourself, but for the sport of darts as a whole.
” Littler broke down in tears after beating the three-times world champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 and then revealed that he spent several hours shortly before the match re-watching his defeat in last year’s final against Luke Humphries. “I had the visions – I kind of knew what went wrong last year,” he said, of a match that saw him miss a dart to lead 5-2. Littler said that he was in a state of shock at realising his childhood dream – and that it meant everything to see so many young fans inside Alexandra Palace in his replica shirt.
“I just can’t believe it – I can tell myself I’ve won it and it is mine – I didn’t feel any nerves,” he said. “I could end 2025 winning absolutely nothing but I have picked up the big one. I just can’t wait to get home and get in my own bed.
As soon as the winning double went in, I looked up to my family and they were in tears as well.” Asked where the huge trophy will go, Littler said “probably the living room floor” but admitted that he would love to parade it at his beloved Manchester United . He now intends to take two weeks off before returning to play in Bahrain and hopefully soon overhaul Humphries at the top of the world rankings.
Littler’s victory lifts him to second in the world after barely a year on the main senior tour. Van Gerwen was gracious in defeat. “Every chance he got to hurt me he took it,” he said.
“I say every 17 years a star gets born and he is one of them. You have to take it on the chin and you have to walk off the stage as a champion. I always have to take my hat off to the people that beat me.
I’m an old b------d compared to him.”.
