On June 22, 2025, Ryley MacGregor, a young darts player from Billingham with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and scoliosis, was overjoyed to receive a personal video message from his idol, PDC World Champion Luke Littler, per Teesside Live. Despite his conditions limiting the use of one side of his body, the Abbey Hill Academy student has excelled at darts, impressing local players who invited him to join the Cleveland Youth Darts team after spotting him playing in a pub, per. Ryley, who began playing inspired by Phil Taylor at age three, has been raising funds for his club, showcasing his skill and determination, per Teesside Live.
Littler, the 18-year-old “Nuke” and world No. 2, sent Ryley a heartfelt message, praising his passion and encouraging him to keep playing, per Teesside Live. Ryley’s mother, Hayley, shared, “He was gobsmacked. He watches Luke all the time, so getting that message was unreal for him,” per. Littler, who won the 2025 PDC World Championship at 17, has inspired a surge in youth darts participation, doubling junior academy numbers in Wales, per BBC News. His own journey began at 18 months with a magnetic dartboard, leading to a meteoric rise with 11 senior PDC titles, per World of Darts Wiki. X posts, like @DartsYouthUK, celebrated the moment, noting, “Luke’s message to Ryley shows why he’s a role model,” per.
