IT began with a fairy tale to make Hans Christian Andersen blush and 2024 is ending with Luke Littler king of the fairground.
Never mind the Big One on Blackpool's Golden Mile, the Nemesis at Alton Towers or his beloved Manchester United - Luke the Nuke's rollercoaster has been the theme park's most thrilling adrenaline rush this year.
"It's been a crazy, crazy ride," said the people's champion as he reflected on the 12 months that changed his life.
Before the week is out, he could usher in 2025 by taking us on the biggest joyride of all. To win the Paddy Power PDC World Championship three weeks shy of his 18th birthday, Littler will have to play out of his skin.
But if anybody can summon the bravado to confound the dermatologists, it's the boy wonder who has made darts more cool than tattoos, body piercings and ripped jeans.
His 4-1 win against Ian White on Saturday night ended Littler's run of 14 consecutive 100-plus averages. But the stats from his first year on the Professional Darts Corporation hamster wheel are astounding.
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