NUKE KID ON THE BLOCK

Littler has X factor...  he's bigger than Mbappe

- MIKE WALTERS

LUKE LITTLER realised his life was about to change beyond all recognition when he was trending on social media above football superstar Kylian Mbappe.

In fairness, Mbappe scored a hattrick for France in the World Cup final 12 months ago and he can run fast but could he hit double 10 to seal a famous win at Ally Pally when his backside's falling out? As 'Luke The Nuke' absorbed the enormity of his Alexandra Palace coup, where he beat former Lakeside world champion Christian Kist and 2023 UK Open winner Andrew Gilding on consecutive nights, his celebrity spread like bushfire.

The oche's new superstar was staggered to learn darts manufacturer Target had sold 900 packs of his branded arrows in 24 hours - and hundreds of kids will be waking up to sets of Luke Littler darts on Christmas morning.

At 16, the boy wonder from Warrington is taking fame remarkably in his stride.

He is now just 10-1 to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy at the Paddy Power PDC World Championship - and two of the big guns in his quarter of the draw, Peter Wright and James Wade, have fallen by the wayside.