LUKE TAKING THE PLUNDER DOWN UNDER

LUKE LITTLER was on cloud nine as he headed for the land of the long white cloud, warning: “I've got that winning feeling back.”

- BY MIKE WALTERS

After backing up his triumph at the World Matchplay last month with a World Series title at the Australian Darts Masters, Luke the Nuke is close to his imperious best.

And following a five-month gap on his trophy rampage between the UK Open and a series of breathtaking comeback wins in Blackpool, Littler’s renewed scoring power looks like giving him first dibs at the maiden £1million prize jackpot in darts.

Littler, 18, heads for Friday's New Zealand Darts Masters already installed as heavy favourite to retain his PDC World Championship crown, at Alexandra Palace in December, where the Sid Waddell Trophy comes with the sport's first seven-figure payday.