09 March 2024 , 21:32
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Luke Litter is the breakout darts sensation of 2024.
The youngster, who comes from Warrington, has shot to fame over the last few months after becoming one of the up-and-coming stars of the sport. He emerged to prominence after securing a spot at the 2024 PDC World Championships at the Alexandra Palace.
Instead of just making up the numbers at the tournament, Littler captured the nation’s imagination by enjoying a dream run to the final on debut. A stunning average saw him beat Christian Kist, Andrew Gilding and Matt Campbell.
He then came up against the legendary Raymond van Barneveld and dispatched the Dutchman 4-1. Littler’s run continued at pace by overcoming Brendan Dolan and Rob Cross to set up a titanic clash with Luke Humphries.
Unfortunately for Littler, he could not quite get over the line.:
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For those who suggested his run was a flash in the plan, Littler has very quickly silenced those doubts. And he's becoming a major household name, with mainstream TV appearances such as on the Jonathan Ross show.
Find out all you need to know about him and his career below
How old is Luke Littler?
Surprisingly, Littler is only 17 years of age. He celebrated his birthday on January 21, just mere weeks after reaching the PDC World Championship final.
Luke Littler was a guest on the Jonathan Ross Show (X/@LukeTheNuke180)
Luke Littler and Millie Bobby Brown playing darts on Jonathan Ross (X/LukeTheNuke180)What has he won?
Despite his disappointment at the Alexandra Palace, Littler has bounced back in style. He won his first tournament at the Bahrain Masters by beating Michael van Gerwen.
However, the Dutch sensation would earn revenge soon after by bouncing back on home soil during the Dutch Masters. Littler’s form at the PDC World Championships saw him secure a spot on the Premier League Darts.
He reached the semi-finals on his first appearance before reaching the final in week two. There have been a number of promising performances from Littler but he has yet to win a Premier League event at the time of writing.
He finally enjoyed his first PDC success during the Belgian Darts open by beating Rob Cross in an epic final. Littler scored a stunning nine-darter on the way to a 8-7 success.
How much has he earned?
Littler’s form has seen him secure an impressive amount of prize money. According to the PDC Order of Merit, he has bagged £237,000.
His success at the PDC World Championships saw him bag £200k of that total. It could have been a lot more if he had beaten Humphries in the final, with £500k on offer for the winner. He also claimed £30k for his success against Cross in Belgium.
Luke Littler shot to fame at the PDC World Championships (Getty Images)How many world titles could Luke Littler potentially win? Share your predictions in the comments below
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What has been said?
Littler’s prize pot might not stop there. According to sports marketing consultant Daniel Tunna, he could be in line to earn around £40million through various sponsorship deals should he stay at the top of the game.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: “Luke is a generational darts talent and he’s already achieved remarkable things. He is so young that it does make it almost impossible to predict just how long and lucrative his career might be.
“However, if he is at the summit of the darts world for 20 years, he could be well on the way to amassing a £40million fortune. Littler’s talent, combined with smart management, and continued high-level performance, have the potential to make him the highest-earning darts player in the world.”
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