Luke Littler is the youngest World Darts champion ever – how did he get here?
Seventeen-year-old Luke Littler swept aside darting great Michael van Gerwen last night to become the youngest World Darts champion ever.
The teenage sensation made it look easy in the final at Alexandra Palace, beating the three-time world champion 7-3.
To add insult to injury, he also stole the Dutchman’s record as youngest ever world champ with seven years to spare – van Gerwen was 24 when he first won it.
The extraordinary victory comes off the back of an equally impressive 12 months for Littler which saw him win 10 trophies in his first pro season.
Littler holds his trophy after dispatching van Gerwen. Pic: PA
The teen has fast become one of the sport’s biggest names and is now world number two – but how did he get here?
Here’s everything you need to know about the darting prodigy and his meteoric rise – from learning to play in nappies as a toddler to building new rivalries.
Playing darts at 18 months old
He may only be a teenager but Littler, from Warrington, Cheshire, has been practising his throwing for some time.
He previously told Sky News: “There’s a video on YouTube of me when I was 18 months in a nappy listening to Raymond van Barneveld’s music, listening to Phil Taylor’s music, doing their celebrations.
“That’s when it started – 18 months and in a nappy on a magnetic board.
“[Aged] four or five I was on a proper board but it was a bit low and then about seven to eight, that’s when I started playing [at] the proper height and the proper length. So it’s just been all darts in my life so far.”
Talent is one thing, but having the right support system to nurture it is just as important.
The teen clearly thinks a lot of his parents, who he said were “proud” of what he had achieved.
All eyes were on the teenager as he walked out for the semi-final. Pic: PA
“They just can’t believe [it], I can’t believe it myself,” he told Sky News during the world championships last year.
“But it’s just good to have a set of parents who are supportive and that are always there for me and I’ve got a good management team around me. So it’s just the best group of people that can be around me, to be honest.”
For coaches and friends who watched Littler play at St Helens Darts Academy in his early years, his rapid rise in the professional game is no surprise.
“He was averaging stupid averages that you should be [getting at] like 16 to 20 years old, but he was doing it at 10,” his former coach Karl Holden told Sky News.
“He was special then,” he added.
Eleanor Cairns, a fellow darts player who has known the 17-year-old for five years, told Sky News Littler has got a “natural throw” and showed natural talent “from the start”.
But she believes his success comes down to far more than just being gifted.
“I know he does a lot of practice for the competitions,” Ms Cairns said.
“Luke never really stops playing darts throughout the week either, so he’s definitely always throwing. It does take a lot, but I know he’s worked hard for it.”
His career so far
It was his remarkable run to the 2023/24 world championship final which made Littler a household name, but his talent had been evident for some time.
He won the England Youth Grand Prix in 2019, became England Youth Open champion in 2021 and won his first senior title at the Irish Open later that year.
He won the Welsh Open in 2022 and in 2023 notched further senior titles at the Isle of Man Classic, Gibraltar Open, British Open and British Classic.
He was also back-to-back JDC World Champion and reigning World Youth Champion.
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Avid darts fans already knew of the rising star, but his unprecedented run in the 2023/24 World Darts Championship aged just 16 made him an instant celebrity.
The teenager beat three former world champions on his journey to the final – defeating Christian Kist in his opening game before overcoming one of his heroes, the five-time world champion and darts legend Raymond van Barneveld, to reach the quarter-finals.
Brendan Dolan was next, then he defeated the 2018 champion Rob Cross in the semi-final to earn his place in a historic final against then world number one Luke Humphries.
A valiant performance saw the then 16-year-old produce more of the spectacular darts that inspired his run to the final as he moved into a 4-2 lead, but Humphries fought back to win 7-4.
Littler after losing to Humphries last year
The loss did nothing to stunt Littler’s progress – and the experience would prove pivotal a year later.
2024 saw record-breaking success for Littler on the senior stage, seeing him become just the fourth player ever to win 10 trophies in a season, including the Premier League, Grand Slam and World Series of Darts Finals.
Even he cannot quite believe how much he has achieved in his debut year, crediting his early victory at the Bahrain Masters, in which he hit a nine-darter, with spurring him on.
“I just wanted to win a few Pro Tours, but obviously winning Bahrain, the World Series, and then it was just European Tours, Pro Tours, and just all the titles I’ve picked up. It just goes to show how well I’ve been playing,” he told Sky Sports News at the end of November.
“It was good to win Bahrain, the first tournament of 2024. I’ve put my hands on it and I just had to build from it there and that’s what I’ve done.”
It was clear well before the world championships began that he wasn’t settling for 10.
“I could potentially end the year on 11, couldn’t I? But yeah, I’ve set another record”, Littler said.
“I’ve put my name into the other players who have won 10 titles this year. But like I said, potentially it could be 11 by next year and I’ll try and break the record.
“I got the runner-up on my first go, but yeah, I’d like to win it… I think I can win it.”
Awards, fans and fame
Littler accepts BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award. Pic: PA
Littler’s celebrity status has risen with every dart he’s thrown.
His Instagram account went from 4,000 followers at the start of last year’s tournament to over 450,000 by the final. Now it’s at 1.6 million.
Not only that – the teenager’s prize earnings have now topped £1.5m after yesterday’s win bagged him £500,000.
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Littler talks fame during last world championships
His light-hearted interviews and extraordinary performances led to Littler being named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2024 last month – he was beaten to the senior award by 800m runner Keely Hodgkinson.
Posting on X, Littler called the public’s recognition a “huge honour”.
“Support this year has been amazing and [I] want to say thank you to everyone who voted and sent messages,” he said.
The teenager admitted his life has drastically changed as a result of his success.
This time last year, he told Sky Sports his life had already changed.
“I’m doing interviews with Sky Sports. Usually I am up in the morning watching Sky Sports News. Now I am on the news. It’s all incredible. I am taking it all in my stride,” said Littler.
Now, he said it’s at a completely different level.
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Fans cheer on Littler before semi-final
Asked if he can walk down the street or go to the shop without being bothered, he laughed and told Sky Sports News: “Not really. Because it’s only a small town and you get spotted everywhere. But I don’t mind taking pictures and seeing all the fans.”
Growing rivalry with van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen embraces Luke Littler after winning a Premier League match in May. Pic: PA
The 2025 final was the 13th match-up between the two biggest faces in darts, having won six each in various competitions in 2024.
The head-to-head looked even, but there was a stark contrast between the pair’s past 12 months; while Littler won 10 titles, his Dutch counterpart failed to win a televised tournament in a calendar year for the first time since 2011.
Still, an experienced pro like 35-year-old van Gerwen couldn’t be underestimated, and he was going into the final looking as much a threat as ever, having thrashed his semi-final opponent Chris Dobey 6-1.
He wasn’t just after his fourth world title – he was also looking to defend his record as youngest ever winner.
The 17-year-old hadn’t shied away from what breaking that record would mean.
“Well, I know Michael van Gerwen holds the youngest at 24, so I’ve got seven years,” Littler told Sky Sports News before the tournament.
“I could just slouch about for six years and then just win it when I’m 24.
“But no, I’d like to obviously win it before Michael won it. It’d mean everything. So to be the youngest, that’s definitely what I’d be looking for.”
Road to the 2024/25 final
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Littler’s road to the final
After being exempt from the first round due to being seeded, Littler started the Alexandra Palace tournament with a surprisingly tough bout against Ryan Meikle in round two, recovering from a slow start to dominate the closing stages of the contest, wrapping up a 3-1 victory.
Next up was Ian White in round three, who gave the teenager another scare, forcing a tight opening set before winning the second. But Littler kept a cool head to eventually see his opponent off with a 4-1 win.
Round four saw a 4-3 thriller between Littler and Ryan Joyce, where the favourite never trailed, but was pushed to the limit by his unseeded opponent as he was repeatedly pegged back.
Littler then hit form, hitting 15 maximums against Nathan Aspinall in a 5-2 quarter-final win before thrashing 39-year-old Stephen Bunting 6 sets to 1 to set up the dream van Gerwen finale.
Littler blows van Gerwen away
Littler celebrates world championship victory. Pic: Reuters
What looked like a contest too close to call quickly became something of a whitewash.
Littler had the Ally Pally crowd firmly on his side and, with their support, got off to a blistering start, winning six out of the first seven legs and the second set with a mind-blowing 115.62 average to race into a 2-0 lead.
Before van Gerwen knew it the teenager was four sets up, with 12 legs won compared to just three for van Gerwen.
He was assured all night, repeatedly knocking in double 10 and double-top to heap pressure on the three-time champion.
The Dutchman staged a mini revival, snatching the fifth set, but Littler kept his cool to prevent his opponent from halving the deficit, swiftly restoring his four-set lead and making it 5-1.
Van Gerwen won the next set to make it 5-2, but Littler came back with a vengeance to breeze through the eighth set to put himself a set away from glory.
Littler’s esteemed rival hit back once again and broke the throw to put the score at 6-3, threatening a late surge.
With pressure high and the Ally Pally crowd at fever pitch, Littler showed his steel as the biggest moment of his career arrived and after picking up the first two legs of the 10th set, he took out two bullseyes and then, on his next visit, D16 to officially become the youngest ever world champion.
‘I can’t believe it!’
After showing composure far beyond his years throughout the night, Littler was instantly brought to tears in front of the screaming Ally Pally crowd.
“I can’t believe it! Honestly, I can’t believe it,” Littler said.
“We both played so well. I said in my interviews, I needed to get off to a quick start and that’s what I did.
“Michael was behind me the whole game. Those cover shots, when he would hit two trebles and I had to come back with two or three, he was right behind me the whole way through.
“Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy but you have to get through a tough field.”
Van Gerwen was quick to congratulate Littler, calling him a “star”, though he was critical of his own performance, saying he didn’t do himself justice in the contest or play to the level he did in the rest of the tournament.
van Gerwen reacts during his frustrating final performance. Pic: PA
“Every moment he got to hurt me, he did,” he added.
“I sometimes say every 17 years a star gets born and he’s one of them.
“Don’t get me wrong, I had a lovely tournament. I’ve been battling my own game but that’s how it was. You have to take it on the chin and take it as a champion.
“It hurts but that’s how it should be. It is what it is.”
What next for the Nuke?
Littler will not practice seriously for a week, but he’ll have barely any time to rest on his laurels; he’ll defend his Bahrain Darts Masters title in mid-January before going on to defend his Premier League crown in February.
After his world championship win, Sky Sports Darts’ Mark Webster analysed the challenges facing Littler going into the 2025 season.
“Littler came here under pressure and he wasn’t the defending champion. He had a bullseye on him and he certainly has a bullseye on him now,” he said.
“They are going to have to bring their A-game and more because we have seen what he has just done to Michael van Gerwen and what he has done throughout this tournament.
“He is not even two years into his career, the challenge now is for him to go and win other majors he hasn’t won and then defend his title next year.
“There is always something else to achieve. He will never think he has completed anything. You have just got to applaud his dedication, he has been dedicated for a long, long time.”
UK
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The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey is calling on the government to introduce a ban on mobile phones in schools – a move she says will not only safeguard children, but also improve their behaviour and engagement in class.
In February 2023, Brianna, 16, was stabbed to death by two 15-year-olds after being lured to a park in Warrington.
In the lead-up to the attack, her killers had spent time on the dark web. At the same time, Brianna was also trapped online, struggling with a phone addiction.
Her mother Esther Ghey’s Phone Free Education campaign is driven by her personal experiences as a parent and the impact Brianna’s phone use had on her education.
Brianna Ghey struggled with a mobile phone addiction, according to her mother
“All the arguments that me and Brianna had were down to her phone use,” Esther said.
“But even in school, she had issues and I used to have phone calls from the school saying that Brianna wouldn’t put her phone away.”
Brianna, who was transgender, struggled with an eating disorder and also self-harmed.
Her mother says the constant time she spent online exacerbated those issues, while impacting her behaviour at school, where she had 120 safeguarding logs and 116 behaviour incidents recorded by her teachers.
Esther Ghey said she had calls from her daughter’s school saying that ‘Brianna wouldn’t put her phone away’
“It was so difficult as a parent, because I felt in one way that I was failing and then in another way, and this is really difficult for me to speak about, I was so annoyed with Brianna,” she recalled.
“I thought, why can’t you just go to school, get your head down and just focus on your education, because this is important.
“Only now, after two years of being immersed in this world, do I realise that actually, it’s so much harder than that.”
Research by the Children’s Commission has shown that 79% of secondary schools are still allowing pupils to bring their mobile phones into school, and even into classrooms.
Brianna’s school introduced a ban on mobile phones in September last year
How phone ban is working at Brianna’s old school
Esther is campaigning for government guidance on phones to become statutory, with funding also set aside for the equipment to help schools implement the ban, arguing the lack of legislation is “setting children up to fail”.
At Birchwood Community High School in Warrington, where Brianna was a pupil, they introduced a ban on phones last September.
At the beginning of the day, pupils turn off their phones and place them in pouches, which are locked. At the end of the school day, the pouches are then unlocked.
Pupils at Birchwood Community High School in Warrington place their phones in pouches, which are then locked
The headteacher, Emma Mills, said introducing these measures has come with several benefits.
“It’s had an impact in all areas of school, and it’s actually had a really positive impact in ways that I didn’t foresee,” said Ms Mills.
“Attendance has improved this year. In terms of behaviour, behaviour has improved. We’ve had no permanent exclusions this year in school, which is actually the first time since I’ve been headteacher in six years, there’s been no permanent exclusion.”
This summer, the school also saw its best-ever GCSE results in the core subjects of Science, maths, and English.
Emma Mills, headteacher at Birchwood Community High School in Warrington
‘They can live without their phones’
For Ms Mills, another significant change has been the atmosphere in the school.
“They’re not as worried, they’re not as distracted,” Ms Mills said.
“They’ve realised that they can live without their phones. Something else we’ve really noticed is that it’s a bit louder in school at breaks and lunch times. It’s because they’re talking more, they’re interacting more, and they’re communicating more.”
The positive impact of a ban at Brianna’s old school has served as encouragement to Esther, who has written an open letter addressed to Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, asking for government support.
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Brianna Ghey
High-profile signatories include the actress Kate Winslet, as well as actor and film producer Stephen Graham.
For Esther, who will deliver the letter to 10 Downing Street next month, the campaign is not just Brianna’s legacy, but also creating societal change.
“I think it’s important that we teach young people to live in the real world,” she said.
“It’s going to impact society at one point and I think this small amount of investment in students now will have a massive impact in the future.”
Police across the UK dealt with more than 3,000 protests over three months this summer – more than three times as many as just two years ago.
There were 3,081 protests this June, July, and August across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council have revealed.
Last summer, when riots were raging across the country following the Southport murders, police dealt with 2,942 protests. In 2023, it was 928.
The summer months this year have been dominated by widespread demonstrations, some against the ban on Palestine Action and others against housing asylum seekers in hotels.
Counter-protesters with police as people take part in a Stand Up To Racism rally in Orpington in August. Pic: PA
‘Increasing tension’
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the NPCC, said it was clear that there has been “more community tension and more division”, adding that “we all have a responsibility, policing included, to set the tone”.
“Anybody in a leadership position should think about how we can reduce and defuse tensions and not sow division,” Mr Stephens said.
The senior official said protests this year were a “chronic pressure” for police compared to last year’s disorder, which was acute.
“This is not talking about the volume of protest, and this is not a commentary from policing on people’s right to protest peacefully,” he said.
“We absolutely support that in a democracy, but we do know that there is a climate of increasing tension and polarity in what we’re seeing.”
He is convinced communities will be able to reunite and “reset”, and said claims that the UK is on the verge of civil disobedience are “exaggerated”.
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It comes as policing leaders are pushing for a major restructuring of forces in England and Wales, hoping to bring more powers to a national level.
They also want to overhaul how funding is calculated for each force.
A government white paper on potential changes to the service is expected to be published in the coming months.
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