'Ronaldo of darts' 16-year-old Luke Littler's incredible journey to championship

01 January 2024 , 12:38

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Luke Littler walks out to play Raymond van Barneveld (Image: PA)

It’s a comparison legendary darts commentator Sid Waddell could well have made and would have been proud of...

At 16, Luke Littler has taken the world of sport by storm, prompting one of his supporters to describe him as the “Ronaldo of darts”. Luke knocked his hero Raymond van Barneveld out of the PDC World Darts Championship to face Brendan Dolan in the quarter-final today.

The child prodigy is yet another darts success story for the Merseyside town of St Helens, better known for rugby league (and Johnny Vegas). Karl Holden, of St Helens Darts Academy where Luke trained, said: “I’ve seen a lot of good ‘uns. Mike Smith [the reigning world champion], Chizzy [Dave Chisnall] worked for me.

"I’ve watched them all when they were younger but I knew Luke was going to cause a lot of problems. He’s just a unique kid with a crazy talent."

Luke Littler

Waddell, who died in 2012, would have have waxed lyrical about the “sheer bottle” the 16-year-old has demonstrated on darts’ biggest stage.

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He once said of 80s darts star Eric Bristow: “When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer... Bristow’s only 27.” Luke, from Warrington, has been honing his skills since he was a tot.

Mum Lisa Buckley uploaded a clip of him as at 18 months, giggling and throwing darts in nappies while listening to van Barneveld’s music and Phil Taylor ’s music. Luke said: “And that’s where it started, 18 months in a nappy, on a magnetic board and then four or five I was on a proper board.”

By around four, Luke was playing darts with a proper board

Academy secretary Karl said Luke entered main competitions at 12 and got into the PDC after finishing in the top two of the Youth Championships. He said: “In darts you’ve got to have sheer bottle, to keep your nerve. He’s got an abundance of confidence. Even before he was 13 we said ‘listen, we can’t help you any more you’re too good’. Three months before he was 11 we had to throw him in the deep end with the under 21s.

“It took him six months before he won his first one. He was playing a lot of county youth players. What he’s got I couldn’t teach. He’s the Ronaldo of darts.”

Luke is pictured with proud parents Lisa and Anthony

Luke, right, pictured in 2017, with Hulk Hogan and his older brother Leon

Karl paid tribute to Luke’s dad Anthony, who used to work as a taxi driver in Warrington and candle shop worker mum, Lisa, for making sacrifices to help him fulfil his dreams.

Lisa, he said, couldn’t even go to watch him at Alexandra Palace because she had to work. He said: “His family have worked so hard, taking him to competitions and helping his career. Just taking him to darts events costs a fortune, staying in hotels around the country. They would have been left penniless."

Luke beat Raymond van Barneveld (pictured) to advance to the quarter-finals (PA)

Karl, who runs St Helens Darts Shop, said Luke’s success is encouraging other children to take up darts. He said: “We’ve had the kids coming in this week saying ‘there’s Luke’s darts’.

"They’ve sold out worldwide now. Everyone wants his darts. I would say to other youngsters what I told Luke, just enjoy it. He’s lovely, he’s down to earth and sensible and a natural talent. He will be world elite."

Lucy Thornton