Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy and World No. 2, posted a candid life update on Instagram on August 28, 2025, revealing he underwent emergency dental surgery just hours before traveling to Belgium for the Flanders Darts Trophy, held from August 29-31, 2025, in Antwerp. The procedure, prompted by severe tooth pain, left Littler “in shock and shaken,” casting doubt on his participation in the European Tour event where he was the top seed. Despite the ordeal, Littler competed and clinched the title, defeating Josh Rock 8-7 in a thrilling final, marking his fourth European Tour title and solidifying his status as a darts superstar.
Littler detailed the experience in his Instagram story, alongside a photo with his girlfriend, Faith Millar: “I spent a few hours in pain, so I had to have a tooth removed. Luckily, they were able to do it and sort me out but hopefully it’s all good for Saturday.” He expressed uncertainty about his condition, noting, “I don’t know how I’m going to be feeling in the morning or whether I’m gonna be in a little bit of pain,” and warned fans, “If you see me in the airport, I’m just gonna have my AirPods in… I’m in shock and shaken as I didn’t know what to expect.” Littler thanked the Night and Day Emergency Dentist team and added a heartfelt “I love you” to Millar for her support during the ordeal.
Despite the setback, Littler’s performance was stellar. He cruised through the second round with a 6-0 whitewash over Dylan Slevin, hitting 100% of his doubles, and maintained a 110 average in a 6-3 win over Ryan Searle in the last 16. His campaign continued with a 6-5 victory over Damon Heta and a 7-1 rout of Daryl Gurney, before the dramatic final against Rock, where he overcame a 161 checkout by Rock to win with an 11-dart leg, averaging over 107 and hitting nine 180s.
The victory, worth £30,000, brought Littler’s 2025 title haul to six PDC majors, including the World Matchplay and World Series events in Australia and New Zealand. Posts on X celebrated his resilience, with @OfficialPDC noting, “Littler’s composure under pressure is unreal!” His recovery from the dental scare, supported by Millar and his team, underscores his ability to thrive under adversity, keeping him on track to challenge Luke Humphries for the World No. 1 ranking.
