The 17-Year-Old Who Conquered a Pub Game

Luke Littler shot to fame last year. Now the darts prodigy is back to win a world championship.

- JOSHUA ROBINSON

There are British sporting heroes who find their way into the public's heart by mopping up Olympic medals or putting on a brave face in valiant defeat. For others, it can be as simple as taking down Germany - or Argentina, or the French.

But none of that is how a 17-year-old named Luke Littler became the nation's favorite wunderkind. His path to stardom has involved a lot more orange soda, a few more kebabs, and a preternatural gift for the game of darts. Not only did he come out of nowhere a year ago to put himself into the darts elite, Littler also managed to turn himself into one of the most recognizable sportsmen in Britain.

His matches have become appointment viewing. Enrollment in youth darts academies has surged. And, according to Google, there were more U.K. searches for Littler in 2024 than for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Earlier this month, Littler was voted the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year - which isn't bad when you consider that darts is barely a sport.

"It just goes to show how much I've changed it," Littler said as he collected the prize.

Now, with the World Darts Championship underway at Alexandra Palace in London, there is no doubt that Luke "The Nuke" Littler is the main attraction. Even his second-round opponent, the 28-year-old Ryan Meikle, knew exactly why anyone would be paying attention to him on Saturday. For a couple of hours, he would have a walk-on part in the Luke Littler Show.