FLY JANUARY

Littler's buzzing and even the pesky Ally Pally wasp cannot get to Boy Wonder

MATINEE idol Luke Littler rang in 2024 by producing the best New Year fireworks display of them all with a sting in the tale.

The boy wonder of darts is now so untouchable that when the infamous Ally Pally wasp tried to "zap" him towards the end of his 5-1 demolition of Brendan Dolan, the little pest thought better of it.

Littler's feats at 16 years of age are now bordering on the ridiculous.

He has now become the youngest PDC World Championship semi-finalist, with a guaranteed minimum £100,000 prize money, he has dropped only four sets in the tournament and clocked up 100-plus averages three times.

After Littler stepped up to nail double four, at the first attempt, for a place in the last four tonight, he took it so calmly in his stride he posed for selfies with fans by the stage (above, left).

It is going to take something special to deny this fairytale a happy ending.