Luke Littler has captured the hearts of the nation with his fearless rise at the oche—but off the darts stage, his story has been far more grounded in reality. Since his sensational debut run at the PDC World Championship last year, the teenage sensation from Runcorn has become a household name. Now, he’s back in the final, squaring off against Michael van Gerwen on January 3.
On the board, Littler’s been ruthless—his semi-final victory over fan-favorite Stephen Bunting was sealed with a stunning 170 checkout on the bullseye. But behind the scenes, life hasn’t always mirrored the magic of his career.
When the then-16-year-old burst onto the scene, he did so with girlfriend Eloise Milburn by his side. Eloise, a 21-year-old beauty consultant, cheered him on at Ally Pally, supporting every dart thrown. But their relationship soon drew scrutiny—particularly the five-year age gap, with Luke still legally a minor.
The backlash online was harsh and unrelenting. Luke, Eloise, and even her mother Amanda spoke out against the “vile” abuse, but the pressure proved too much. The relationship, which began just weeks before Luke’s breakout performance, reportedly ended via text—a move that caught Eloise off guard and left her heartbroken.
They had met during a training programme in Leicester, and while their romance bloomed in the early stages of Luke’s rise to fame, the demands of stardom left little room for young love to grow. The split, described as “raw,” came as his schedule and fame made their connection difficult to maintain.
Even after the relationship ended, online trolls continued to target Eloise, adding further strain to what was already a public breakup. It’s a reminder that behind the bright lights and massive checkouts, Luke is still just a teenager navigating fame, expectations—and first heartbreak.
