In a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, his hair matted down, he might be mistaken for a teenager on a holiday abroad. He’s quite stocky but, still, any mother might be prompted to throw her protective arms around him. Youthfulness is a major part of his phenomenon. He has never driven a car; he couldn't buy a beer until he turned 18 on Tuesday; he’s never willingly read a book. He has one GSCE, in sport. But he possesses a genius ability to aim 23-gram missiles accurately at a board from 7ft, 9 1⁄4in away, oche to target.
![[Littler was just 17 years and 347 days old when he beat Michael van Gerwen in the final]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/09/94469235-14295933-image-a-2_1737711734471.jpg)
This is Luke 'the Nuke' Littler, one of the greatest providers of sporting pleasure in the depths of this winter, a man-child who has elevated his pub game into uncharted levels of popularity. On January 3, the most precocious darts sensation of this or any generation beat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the PDC World Championship final with a free-wheeling repertoire of gifts. He was then aged 17 years and 347 days.
![[Victory produced a life-changing sum of £500,000 in prize money for Littler]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/09/94469239-14295933-image-a-3_1737711741390.jpg)
His feat made him the youngest title-holder, eclipsing the record previously held by his opponent, himself a triple winner of the sport’s grandest prize. The Dutchman was 24 then, back in 2014. Victory meant Littler went one better than 12 months earlier when his staggering run, which propelled him to fame, ended in defeat at the last hurdle to Luke Humphries, his fellow Englishman.
![[Littler went to Benidorm to celebrate with his family, and now sits down for his first interview]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/09/94469245-14295933-image-a-4_1737711753187.jpg)
