Inside Luke Littler's upbringing and how it made him a darts superstar: Rival stepped in to confront his 'dead critical' taxi driver dad - but it paid off for whole family after £1.5m winnings
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Luke Littler completed his darting destiny by winning the World Championship last week - and he is still almost a fortnight away from his 18th birthday. It was a triumph that has been over 16 years in the making, ever since his mum, Lisa, put a magnetic dart in his hand when he was only 18-months-old.
![[Littler has been pushed by his dad, Anthony, (right) from an early age]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/11/93863027-14262187-image-m-15_1736334572066.jpg)
As Littler nailed double 16 and raised his arms aloft after sweeping aside Michael van Gerwen, it was only fitting that his parents and one of his brothers were at Alexandra Palace to share his special moment. After all, it has been a family effort to get him to the top of the sport.
![[Luke's rival Nathan Aspinall (right) revealed he once confronted Anthony after he was 'dead critical' of his son]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/11/93863021-14262187-image-a-16_1736334636161.jpg)
Growing up in Warrington in the North-West of England, Littler's talent was spotted from an early age by his taxi driver dad, Anthony, 43. By the age of nine, Luke had joined the St Helens Dart Academy where he got to play against the best the local area had to offer, and Anthony was happy to take time off work to drive his son to tournaments. But there was a trade-off - Luke had to keep striving for perfection.
![[Luke's dad, Anthony (right) is rarely seen smiling during his son's matches]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/11/93863003-14262187-image-a-13_1736334528749.jpg)
Anthony's treatment of Luke came to a head when he first played Nathan Aspinall - a former World Matchplay champion - at the age of 12. Aspinall recalls seeing that Anthony was being hard on his son, and reveals he confronted Littler Sr after narrowly beating Luke.
![[Anthony's tough love has paid off as he watched his son win his maiden world title last week]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/11/93864457-14262187-image-a-19_1736335140977.jpg)
Luke Littler became world champion for the first time at Alexandra Palace last week. Littler has been pushed by his dad, Anthony, (right) from an early age. Luke's rival Nathan Aspinall (right) revealed he once confronted Anthony after he was 'dead critical' of his son.
![[Luke's mum, Lisa, is always seen giving him a hug as he makes his way to the stage for his matches]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/08/11/93863007-14262187-image-a-10_1736334134305.jpg)
