So far in 2026, Littler has been dominant. He claimed his second PDC World Darts Championship title in January at Alexandra Palace and followed it up by winning his first World Masters (darts) crown in February. His triumph at Alexandra Palace earned him a huge £1 million prize, while the Masters added another £100,000 to his earnings.
Despite the massive winnings, a large portion will be taken by the UK tax authorities. HM Revenue & Customs treats prize money won by professional athletes as earned income. Because of his growing earnings, Littler now falls into the highest tax bracket.
From the £120,000 he collected for winning the UK Open in Minehead, it is estimated that about 45 percent could be deducted as income tax. In addition, around two percent may be taken as National Insurance contributions.
That means the £120,000 prize could be reduced to roughly £63,600 after deductions of about £56,400 in tax and National Insurance — though this figure is only an estimate.
The calculation also does not include other expenses such as management commissions, travel costs, and other business-related deductions, which can reduce the amount he ultimately takes home.
In the UK, the 45 percent additional tax rate applies to earnings above £125,140. As a result, it is likely that much of Littler’s income for the rest of the year will be taxed at that level. However, like many professional darts players, Littler operates through a limited company, which can help manage and reduce his tax burden since players on the PDC circuit are technically self-employed contractors.
His £1 million prize from the World Championship earlier this year likely resulted in a tax bill of up to £450,000 before National Insurance contributions.
Still, Littler has repeatedly said that the trophies matter more to him than the money. After defeating Ryan Searle in the semi-finals of the World Championship earlier this year, he said: “It’s a massive prize. But it’s the trophy on the stage — it’s not the money.”
Following his latest victory at the UK Open, Littler told ITV:
“It feels amazing. I don’t think it has been the best tournament for me average-wise, but I’ve dug deep throughout the event and managed to come out with the win.
“That’s what James does — he’s always right behind you. I told him after the match that if he had hit those double tops, it could have been a completely different game. Me and James always have a good battle.
“I joked with him, ‘Back-to-back — you can get me next year.’ I wasn’t happy with myself in the early rounds, but as a player you have to dig deep. In the end, we came out as champions.”
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