Luke Littler reveals the moment his 'bottom fell out' seconds before his emotional clash with Ryan Meikle - as 17-year-old lifts the lid on the pressure of returning to Ally Pally
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It was a set from the Gods which saw Luke Littler secure his first win of this year’s World Darts Championship. Two 11-darters and one 10-darter in which only the width of a wire prevented perfection, adding up to a barely-believable 140.91 average for a new record. Et voilà: victory.
![[The 17-year-old was at his all-conquering best as he lit up the Alexandra Palace stage]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/13/93401641-14218587-image-a-25_1734875530597.jpg)
But then, on another night of drowsy darts at Alexandra Palace came the sobering reminder of what we were really watching: a 17-year-old. Littler broke down in tears as his televised interview on Sky Sports was abandoned live. He exited the stage in search of an embrace from mum, Lisa.
![[After securing his place in the third round of the competition Littler was overcome with emotion]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/13/93401603-14218587-image-a-26_1734875588079.jpg)
He showed why this is no mechanical throwing machine programmed to be the next Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor. Prodigy, yes, but impervious to the pressure that can make mere mortals of us all? Certainly not. It was less than an hour after all this occurred that Littler sat down in a side room of Ally Pally in the presence of Mail Sport to discuss what had happened.
![[Littler admitted he had suddenly been overcome with nerves when the match got underway]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/22/13/93401655-14218587-image-a-27_1734875644402.jpg)
Amid that conversation arrived another nudge that this is merely a kid being beamed into the nation’s living rooms, as he explained his excitement at discovering what he will be ripping open on Christmas morning. ‘I don’t know,’ he said with a smile when asked if he knows what his parents have bought the lad with arrow in hand and world at feet. ‘I don’t even like saying it, but the money I have earned, I haven’t asked for anything. My mum and dad said they have got me something. I’ll be grateful but I haven’t asked for anything.’ After a pause, he added: ‘Almost got everything.’.
