Luke Littler Brushes Off Record-Breaking Night as ‘Rubbish’ Ahead of 2025 World Darts Championship
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation known as “The Nuke,” made headlines with his nonchalant dismissal of a record-breaking performance at the 2025 Premier League Darts in Sheffield, calling it “rubbish” and a mere “warm-up” for bigger challenges. On May 22, 2025, Littler stormed to a 6-3 victory over world No. 1 Luke Humphries in the Night 16 final, securing his sixth nightly win of the season—a new Premier League record. With a 114.09 average, eight ton-plus checkouts, including a 155 and a 170, and a record 45 points in the league phase, Littler’s performance was anything but ordinary. Yet, speaking to Sky Sports, he shrugged it off, saying, “It’s just a warm-up. I’m very happy to be top again and breaking all these records once again.”[](https://www.gbnews.com/sport/darts/luke-littler-record-night-rubbish-warm-up-darts)
This audacious attitude underscores Littler’s unshakable confidence as he prepares for the 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, where he’s the defending champion and No. 4 seed. After surviving a tense 3-2 second-round win over Ryan Meikle on December 17, 2025, Littler faces Meikle again in the third round on December 29, aiming to continue his quest for a second world title. His Sheffield performance, where he dispatched Stephen Bunting 6-1 without missing a double and beat Nathan Aspinall en route to the final, showcased his lethal scoring power and efficiency on double 10. Commentator Wayne Mardle was stunned by Littler’s “warm-up” remark, noting, “The nonchalance of Littler is a testament to his natural darting ability,” as he swept aside the world’s best with ease.[](https://www.gbnews.com/sport/darts/luke-littler-record-night-rubbish-warm-up-darts)
Littler’s 2025 has been a whirlwind of records. He became the youngest PDC world champion at 17 years and 347 days, defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in January, and claimed the UK Open and Belgian Darts Open titles. His Premier League campaign saw him hit a third televised nine-darter against Van Gerwen in Cardiff and amass a record 79 maximum 180s. Despite losing the Premier League final 11-8 to Humphries on May 29, Littler’s dominance—six nightly wins and a 104.64 semi-final average against Gerwyn Price—cemented his status as a generational talent.[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/darts/article-14762723/Luke-Littler-Luke-Humphries-Premier-League-Darts.html)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Littler)[](https://www.gbnews.com/sport/darts/luke-littler-premier-league-record-2672189774)
His casual dismissal of such feats reflects a mindset unfazed by pressure, though he’s not immune to frustration. After a 6-4 loss to Price in Dublin’s Premier League Night 3, Littler stormed off stage, tossing his darts case in a rare show of emotion. Yet, he rebounded, telling *The Daily Mail*, “I’ve set many records and personally I don’t think they’ll be broken. I’m going to try and break my own records next year.” As he faces Meikle, with a potential quarter-final against Humphries looming, Littler’s blend of swagger and skill makes him a formidable force. Fans on X are buzzing, with one post calling him “a showman who treats records like warm-ups,” capturing the excitement around his Alexandra Palace return.[]
