Barry Hearn, the 77-year-old darts supremo and founder of Matchroom Sport, has candidly admitted that Luke Littler’s meteoric rise has presented him with a unique “problem” in managing the Professional Darts Corporation’s (PDC) booming popularity. Speaking to Sky Sports on September 16, 2025, Hearn credited the 18-year-old sensation—nicknamed “The Nuke”—for transforming darts into a global phenomenon, but revealed the challenge of accommodating surging demand within the constraints of a calendar year. “It’s just getting bigger and bigger,” Hearn said. “I’m actually having a problem that there is only 365 days in a year! The demand worldwide is so huge that I could fill that twice.”
Hearn’s comments come amid Littler’s dominant 2025 season, where the Warrington teenager has won six major PDC titles, including the World Championship (£500,000), Premier League (£315,000), and World Matchplay (£200,000), amassing over £2 million in prize money and a net worth estimated at £1.5-6 million. The “Littler effect” has shattered viewership records, sold out venues like Alexandra Palace in minutes, and driven PDC prize money past £25 million for the year—up from £15 million in 2024.
Hearn’s ‘Problem’: Managing Unprecedented Demand
Hearn, who has overseen darts’ evolution from a niche pub sport to a £50 million-plus industry since 2001, described Littler’s impact as a “Christmas present” that arrived perfectly timed. The 2024 World Championship final, where a 16-year-old Littler reached the decider, drew a record 3.75 million viewers on Sky Sports— the broadcaster’s highest for a non-football event. Littler’s 2025 Worlds win peaked at over 3 million, and events like the Premier League now generate £12 million annually from Sky alone, a deal Hearn tripled after Littler’s emergence.
The core issue, per Hearn, is logistical: “It’s non-stop. The players are responding with performances beyond what I’ve ever seen—in terms of averages and checkouts. Led by the main man Luke Littler, who is fast becoming a phenomenon.” With demand from Europe, Asia, and the US surging, Hearn revealed the PDC could double its calendar but is limited by player welfare and venue availability. “We’ve just doubled the prize money in darts,” he noted, with the World Championship now worth £1 million to the winner and more European events added due to fan interest.
Hearn’s “problem” is bittersweet: Littler’s appeal—his kebab-loving, unassuming personality combined with record feats like 64 maximums at the World Matchplay—has attracted younger demographics and families, turning darts mainstream. The 2026 Premier League will visit Belgium for the first time (Antwerp, February 12), reflecting global expansion, but Hearn emphasized caution: “We can’t overload the players. Luke’s a generational talent, but we need to protect him.”
Littler’s Impact: From Prodigy to Phenomenon
Littler’s journey has been meteoric. At 16, his 2024 Worlds final run captivated 3.75 million viewers; by 18, he’s won 17 PDC titles, including five majors, and become darts’ highest earner under 20. Hearn, who scouted Littler at age seven, called him “the next Tiger Woods for darts” in a May 2025 interview. Littler’s sponsorships with Target Darts (“biggest in darts history”), boohooMAN, and Xbox, plus his merchandise empire (“The Nuke Shop”), have boosted the sport’s commercial value.
Hearn warned of challenges: “There’s a tsunami of talent inspired by Luke—dozens of other Littlers coming through.” He recounted spotting a 10-year-old averaging 106 but joking, “He couldn’t reach the double top!” Hearn’s advice to Littler on fame—”Don’t listen to fake friends”—reflects his protective stance.
The Bigger Picture: Darts’ Golden Era
Hearn’s admission underscores darts’ golden era under Littler. PDC events now rival major sports in viewership, with £25 million in 2025 prize money—a milestone Hearn celebrated. The 2026 schedule expands to 17 Premier League nights, including Belgium, while the World Championship at Alexandra Palace could move to a larger venue due to sell-outs.
Yet, Hearn faces the “problem” of sustainability: “Life is about timing, and Luke’s perfect.” With Littler’s Netflix documentary set for 2026 and US market push, darts’ growth is exponential. Hearn’s challenge is balancing demand with player health, ensuring the sport’s longevity.
As Littler prepares for the World Grand Prix (October 7-12), Hearn’s words affirm his transformative role. In a sport Hearn calls his “number one achievement,” Littler isn’t just a problem—he’s the solution to darts’ global ambitions.
