02 January 2024 , 13:19
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Teenage sensation Luke Littler was always destined to be a darts prodigy after starting his journey at just 18 months old.
The young star, only 16, has been lighting up the PDC World Championship with impressive win after impressive win - including victory over hero Raymond van Barneveld - to reach the final four.
Littler is one of the favourites to win the whole tournament, having made it to the semi-finals where he'll face former champion Rob Cross. The winner will then go head-to-head with either Luke Humphries or Scott Williams, who knocked out Michael van Gerwen.
While those in the darts world aren't surprised by the world youth and junior champion's progress, his performances have caught the imagination of the wider public and transcended the sport.
A video on YouTube shows baby Luke throwing darts at a mini magnetic board, with Phil Taylor's famous walk-on music Snap's I've Got the Power playing in the background. Unsurprisngly, amid his success, the clip has now gone viral on social media.
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The young darts sensation told Sky News: "There's a video on YouTube on me when I was 18 months in a nappy listening to Raymond van Barneveld's music, Phil Taylor's music, doing their celebrations. That's where it started, at 18 months old in the nappy on a magnetic board.
"Then at four or five on a proper board, but it was a bit low. Seven to eight, that's when I started playing the proper height and length."
Littler has taken Alexandra Palace by storm and became the youngest semi-finalist ever after he beat Brendan Dolan 5-1 in the quarter-final.
And the teenager believes it is going to “take a lot” to stop his juggernaut.
“It feels unbelievable. I would never have thought I would have got to the semis on my debut year,” he said. “Brendan was just another opponent in my way and I have brushed him aside and now I am into the semi-final.
“It’s going to take a lot to stop me, based on my performances so far. But it is about whatever Luke Littler turns up. I have got the ability to go all the way, if it’s not to be tomorrow night, it’s not to be.
“I know I have got a good chance and I have got a good feeling I could go all the way tomorrow.”
Luke Littler throwing at a mini magnetic dartboard at just 18 months old (YouTube)
Luke Littler playing darts at just 18 months old (YouTube)Opponent Cross has enjoyed watching Littler's emergence, but says there will be no room for sentiment.
“Everyone loves an underdog story,” he said. “As the public and people looking at the game, everyone loves an underdog story. “I am not being rude, I am on Luke's side, I love an underdog story.
“It took a bit of pressure off me winning it first time as well. He’s fantastic and he deserves all the luck in the world, he is a nice, young boy.
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"Tomorrow we play darts, though, and I have to go down to business.”
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]