'Luke The Nuke's' Big Blast

Littler, 17, is youngest darts world champion, beating his predecessor to claim £500k

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Luke Littler has become the youngest world champion of darts, a sport that has its origins as a British pub game, before the English 17-year-old can legally buy an alcoholic drink in his homeland.

Yet, despite his tender age, he has had a long apprenticeship in the sport given that - as shown by family videos - he first started playing darts when he was still a nappy-clad toddler.

He has had years of experience and practice, but Littler, nicknamed "Luke the Nuke", admitted the occasion had still got to him after he won his opening match of the 2024-25 World Championship against Ryan Meikle.

"It is probably the biggest time it's hit me," he said. "It has been a lot to deal with."

But he still posted a tournament record three-dart average of 140.91 in the fourth set.

And come the semi-finals, Littler thrashed world No. 5 Stephen Bunting 6-1.

The final on Jan 3 against Michael van Gerwen was billed as a tougher contest, with the Dutchman having been the youngest world champion as a 24-year-old in 2014.

Yet the three-time winner was blown away as Littler surged into a 4-0 lead and showed no nerves to close it out 7-3.