‘It’s just me’ – Luke Littler reveals he hasn’t thrown a single dart since winning second World Darts Championship title
LUKE LITTLER went completely cold turkey after lifting his second World Darts Championship title – and only picked up a dart again days later.
The Nuke may now be one of the most recognisable figures in British sport, but he has never been known for spending endless hours on the practice board. In fact, Littler has long admitted that he rarely practises away from tournaments.
After sealing his second world crown on January 3 with a stunning 147 checkout to land the £1million PDC World Darts Championship prize, the teenager put his darts away entirely. Littler spent around ten days unwinding at home before finally throwing again upon arriving in Bahrain for his first event since retaining the Sid Waddell Trophy.
Speaking ahead of his seven-hour flight from the UK, Littler explained:
“After the final, I said I’d see everyone in Bahrain. That’s when I’ll throw my first dart again. It’s the same as the last two years – I won’t do much.”
Away from the oche, Littler’s life has changed dramatically. SunSport recently reported that he has agreed a £20million, ten-year deal with long-time sponsors Target Darts, covering the next stage of his career and all merchandise sales. Yet despite the staggering sums involved, Littler insists money will not alter who he is.
“I’m just me,” said Littler, who currently tops the rolling two-year PDC Order of Merit with £2.77million in prize money. “Outside of the darts, inside of the darts, I’ll never change. I won’t change for anyone – this is how I am.
“Even my mum and dad said to me after my first Worlds, ‘Don’t change anything, just be yourself.’ That’s how it’s going to be. When it comes to darts, I’m competitive. When I’m at home, I chill out with friends and family. I just want to keep winning.”
Littler’s form suggests his relaxed approach is working. He has now won 20 matches in a row since November 8, dominating the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and the World Championship in the process.
Two years ago, he announced himself on the Middle Eastern stage by hitting his first televised nine-darter and lifting the Golden Palm Trees trophy – his first title as a professional. While Stephen Bunting is the defending champion from 2025, few would bet against Littler extending his winning run again, especially with his 19th birthday just days away.
Reflecting on his rapid rise, the world No1 said:
“When I was a little kid, playing in pubs, all the old men used to say, ‘You’re going to be a world champion.’ I didn’t expect it to turn out like this, but the support from my family, friends and sponsors has helped me get here. Obviously, I’ve done my job by playing well.”
Littler believes he still has “a lot of years left” in the sport and has already set his sights on one of darts’ most daunting records – Phil Taylor’s extraordinary 3,343 days as world number one.
“When I turned No1, there was a list of former world No1s shown on TV,” Littler added. “Phil Taylor was up there for thousands and thousands of days. I want to go on and break that record. We’ll see what we can do.
“It shows the confidence I’ve got. I’m playing on the biggest stages all year round, knowing I can win there. I want to be remembered for the titles I win, the nine-darters I hit, and the legacy I leave. I want to win so many trophies – and there are so many years left.”
