Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts phenom and reigning PDC World Champion, has dropped a bombshell admission about the upcoming 2026 World Darts Championship, revealing that the top prize will balloon to a staggering £1 million—double the current £500,000. The announcement, made during a casual chat with Sky Sports on September 18, 2025, ahead of the Hungarian Darts Trophy in Budapest, confirms long-standing rumors and positions Littler as the frontrunner to claim the historic payday. “I’m 99.9 per cent sure that the World Championship’s top prize will increase to a whopping £1 million,” Littler said, aligning with comments from world No. 1 Luke Humphries. The revelation underscores darts’ explosive growth under Littler’s influence, with the teenager already eyeing a repeat defense at Alexandra Palace in December.
The Admission: A Record-Breaking Payday
Littler’s offhand confirmation came amid discussions about the PDC’s prize money surge, which has topped £25 million across events in 2025—a 67% increase from 2024. “Whoever wins the Worlds will be No. 1 for a long time, and with £1 million on the line, it’s massive,” Littler noted, echoing Humphries’ earlier leak during a March 2025 interview. Humphries, Littler’s 2024 final conqueror, had revealed the doubling as a “crazy plan” from PDC board meetings, aimed at cementing the champion’s supremacy. PDC supremo Barry Hearn confirmed the hike in July, stating, “The world champion will get a million quid—it’s the general crazy plan.”
Littler, who pocketed £500,000 for his 2025 Worlds win over Michael van Gerwen (7-3), joked about the upgrade: “I’ll take it—means more kebabs for the family!” His 2025 haul—17 PDC titles, including the Premier League (£315,000), World Matchplay (£200,000), and UK Open (£110,000)—has him at No. 2 in the main Order of Merit, £600,000 behind Humphries. A £1 million Worlds win would catapult him to No. 1 and secure his dominance.
Littler’s 2025 Dominance: The Catalyst for Change
Littler’s meteoric rise has been the driving force behind darts’ financial boom. Since his 2024 Worlds final run at 16—drawing 3.75 million viewers, Sky Sports’ highest non-football event—his “Littler effect” has shattered records. The 2025 Worlds final peaked at over 3 million, and events like the Premier League now generate £12 million annually from Sky alone, tripling the previous deal. Hearn called Littler “the next Tiger Woods for darts,” crediting him for attracting younger fans and sponsors like Target Darts (“biggest deal in history”) and boohooMAN.
Littler’s 2025 stats are staggering: 17 titles (five majors), a record 64 maximums at the World Matchplay, and £2 million+ in earnings, pushing his net worth to £1.5-6 million. His merchandise empire, “The Nuke Shop,” sells out hoodies and dart sets, while a Netflix documentary in 2026 will chronicle his journey. “The £1 million prize is fitting—darts is massive now,” Littler said, reflecting on the sport’s evolution from pub game to global powerhouse.
Humphries’ Leak and the Bigger Picture
Humphries’ March admission set the stage: “The world champion is going to get a million quid… whoever wins that is going to be world number one.” The hike ensures the Worlds winner dominates the Order of Merit, with Littler “99.9 per cent sure” it’s locked in. Hearn confirmed it as part of a “crazy plan” to elevate the sport, alongside expanded calendars (17 Premier League nights in 2026, including Belgium) and £25 million total prize money.
For Littler, the admission is personal: “It doesn’t matter what happens next six months—Worlds is everything.” Defending his title at Ally Pally (December 15, 2025-January 3, 2026), tickets start at £119, with the £1 million payday making it the richest in darts history. Littler’s focus remains sharp: “I’ll be there, ready to defend.”
Fan Reactions: Excitement and Expectation
Fans on X are thrilled: “£1 million Worlds prize? Littler’s got this—Nuke to defend and cash in!” (@DartsFanatic). Another posted, “Humphries leaked it, Littler confirmed—darts is on fire thanks to The Nuke” (@TheNukeArmy). The announcement boosts anticipation for Littler’s Hungarian Darts Trophy opener this weekend (September 19-21), where he’s favored to win his first Euro Tour title.
Littler’s surprise admission cements his role in darts’ golden era. With £1 million on the line at Worlds, the teenager’s quest for back-to-back glory is more lucrative—and electric—than ever. As he eyes Budapest, one thing’s clear: The Nuke is loaded, and ready to explode.
