Luke Littler's eight-word remark to manager after World Darts Championship looks silly now
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An eight-word comment from Luke Littler has proved incredibly wide of the mark as his darts career continues to sky-rocket. The teenager’s run to the World Championship final, where he was beaten by Luke Humphries, transcended the sport 12 months ago. It also led him being picked for the Premier League, the annual darting roadshow which criss-crosses the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe for almost four months.
Given his age, just 16 at the time, there were fears it would be too much too soon. But Littler gladly accepted the invitation after the briefest of conversations his manager, telling him: “Let's do it, it might not happen again.”. Speaking about the selection earlier this year, Littler recalled: “It's unbelievable, no more development tour – this is it. Playing in the Premier League and comfortably in the [world's top] 32.
“As soon as I came off the stage [after the World final], did the media and saw the family, my manager pulled me aside and said, 'do you want to do it?’ I said, ‘let's do it, it might not happen again’.”. Given what he has gone onto achieve since then, it will definitely happen again, and many times over. Littler took to the Premier League like a duck to water, topping the league phase and then beating Humphries in the final on play-off night at London's O2.
LOVE THE DARTS? Get your ultimate World Darts Championship publication now. Numerous other titles followed, including the Grand Slam, which catapulted him up to fourth in the world rankings. While he is seeded four at the World Championship, he is the bookies’ favourite to lift the Sid Waddell trophy on January 3. He is on course to meet Humphries, the second-favourite, in the semi-finals.
