Inside Luke Littler’s birthday celebrations with girlfriend Faith Millar as darts star turns 19

Luke Littler has opened up on how he plans to celebrate his 19th birthday — and recalled the clever way he outsmarted paparazzi during his 18th celebrations last year.

The two-time world champion marked the occasion in perfect fashion by defeating Michael van Gerwen 8–5 to win the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters in Riyadh on Tuesday night, just hours before his birthday on Wednesday, January 22.

While the darts world focused on his latest triumph, Littler already had celebrations mapped out — including a short getaway and a nod to the elaborate ruse that allowed him to enjoy a normal birthday 12 months ago.

Perfect Timing in Riyadh

Littler could scarcely have scripted a better build-up to his birthday. Victory at the Global Theater earned him £30,000 in prize money and capped an impressive run that included wins over Paul Lim, Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price before seeing off Van Gerwen in the final.

“Obviously, I’m celebrating my birthday tomorrow,” Littler said after lifting the trophy. “I’m going over to Dubai with my family and girlfriend and have three days off.”

The Dubai trip with girlfriend Faith Millar and his family offers a brief pause before the season intensifies again — but it also contrasts sharply with how he marked turning 18.

How Littler Tricked the Paparazzi

Reflecting on last year’s birthday, Littler revealed how he managed to dodge photographers desperate for a glimpse of his celebrations.

“Surely they know that I’m going to go out,” Littler explained earlier this year. “Before that, I was on TikTok playing FIFA in front of like 4,000 people. So obviously they thought I was staying in for the night — but unlucky for them, I went out.”

The livestream proved to be the perfect decoy. While paparazzi believed Littler was settling in for the evening, they instead followed his father — who was heading to the chip shop.

“They actually caught my dad going to the chippy instead of me going bowling,” Littler laughed.

Meanwhile, the teenage star slipped out unnoticed to enjoy a bowling trip with friends — a rare slice of normality amid his rapidly growing fame.

‘A Few Scoops’ Before Saudi Success

This year’s celebrations actually began early. After his winning run ended in Bahrain with a quarter-final defeat to Gerwyn Price, Littler enjoyed a quiet get-together with family and friends before travelling to Saudi Arabia.

Footage shared by ITV darts commentator Mark Wilson showed Littler enjoying “a few scoops” in relaxed surroundings — a low-key warm-up that preceded another title-winning week.

“I will celebrate my birthday now,” Littler confirmed after his Saudi triumph, with the Dubai break next on the agenda.

From Bowling Alley to Dubai

The contrast between Littler’s last two birthdays underlines just how quickly his life has changed.

At 18, he was sneaking out to go bowling while paparazzi staked out his house. At 19, he is flying to Dubai after winning a World Series title, with career earnings now well beyond £3 million and a packed global schedule ahead.

Yet despite the fame, sponsorships and constant attention, Littler continues to prioritise time with family, friends and the people who keep him grounded.

What’s Next

After his three-day break, Littler will return to action with the Winmau World Masters later this month, before the Premier League campaign begins in early February — a gruelling 17-week stretch against the world’s elite.

For now, though, the world number one is allowing himself a moment to switch off.

From FIFA livestreams and bowling alleys to Dubai getaways and major titles, Luke Littler’s birthdays may be changing fast — but his ability to stay one step ahead, both on and off the oche, remains very much the same.