Luke Littler Crowned World Darts Champion at Just 17 — The Rise of a Sporting Prodigy
Luke Littler has stunned the sports world by becoming the youngest-ever world darts champion at the age of just 17, defeating Dutch legend Michael van Gerwen 7–3 in the final in London on Friday.
Here’s what you need to know about the teenager taking the darts world by storm:
From Diapers to Dartboards
Littler’s journey began remarkably early — he threw his first dart at just 18 months old, albeit onto a magnetic board, wearing a diaper in a now-viral video. By age 4 or 5, he was using steel-tipped darts, and at 6 or 7, he was already throwing from full competition distance. His talent was clear early on: he claimed his first senior title at the Irish Open in 2021, aged just 14.
A Global Breakout Star
The world took notice of Littler when he reached the final of the 2024 World Darts Championship at just 16. With crowds cheekily chanting “You’ve got school in the morning,” the teenage sensation toppled two former world champions to reach the final, where he narrowly lost to then-world No. 1 Luke Humphries. Littler’s humble post-match celebrations? A kebab and some downtime on his gaming console.
Raking in the Rewards
Littler’s runner-up finish earned him £200,000 (around $255,000), and he ended 2024 with over £1 million ($1.28 million) in prize money after securing 10 tournament victories worldwide — from Bahrain to Amsterdam. He’s now ranked No. 4 in the world.
Bigger Than a King
Google named Littler Britain’s most-searched athlete of 2024, and the third most-searched person overall — trailing only Kate Middleton and Donald Trump, and finishing ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles. His Instagram followers skyrocketed from 4,000 to over 1.5 million in under a year.
The Littler Effect
Littler’s meteoric rise has ignited a youth darts boom. Steve Brown, chairman of the Junior Darts Corporation, said the number of under-16 academies has more than doubled in the last year — now standing at 115 globally, from the UK to Mongolia. JDC membership has also nearly doubled, surging from 1,600 to over 3,000.
Life at Home
Despite his success, Littler — nicknamed “Luke the Nuke” — still lives with his parents, Lisa Littler and Anthony Buckley, in Warrington, northwest England. A passionate Manchester United fan, he even received a personal message of support from David Beckham during his 2024 championship run.
From a toddler with a dart in hand to a teenage world champion inspiring the next generation, Luke Littler is more than just a rising star — he’s a full-blown phenomenon.
