2 days ago
5
Newly crowned satellite champion Luke Littler says helium volition ne'er picture himself arsenic the champion darts subordinate successful the world.
Littler, 17, became the youngest ever victor of the PDC World Darts Championship with a 7-3 triumph implicit Michael van Gerwen astatine Alexandra Palace connected Friday night.
"People volition accidental I americium the champion astatine the infinitesimal but I've said I volition ne'er admit I americium the best," Littler told BBC Breakfast.
"But, possibly my performances amusement I americium the best."
The teen was making lone his 2nd quality astatine the tourney having reached the last connected debut 12 months ago, losing to existent satellite fig 1 Luke Humphries.
Since his Alexandra Palace debut successful December 2023, Littler has risen from 164th to 2nd successful the PDC Order of Merit.
Since lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy, Littler has received congratulations from crossed the satellite of sport.
The astir meaningful to Littler was from erstwhile England skipper David Beckham, a leader erstwhile helium was astatine Littler's beloved Manchester United.
At past month's BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Littler said helium wanted Beckham to travel him connected Instagram and helium has since done so.
"David Beckham messaged me," Littler told BBC Radio 5 Live aft his triumph implicit Van Gerwen.
"That's the biggest 1 [I've had]. He said 'well done and wow'."
Littler's World Championship triumph finishes disconnected a twelvemonth successful which his occurrence has helped the athletics turn massively.
In 2024, Littler was the astir searched for sports idiosyncratic connected Google successful Great Britain and the 3rd astir searched idiosyncratic overall.
As good arsenic winning the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year grant and finishing 2nd successful the main award, Littler has featured connected TV chat shows and is successful Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe list, uncharted territory for a darts player.
Dubbed the 'Littler effect', 'The Nuke' is alert of what his occurrence has done for darts, with important maturation successful the fig of academies for children being formed crossed Great Britain successful the past 12 months.
"It is bully to spot the household conception afloat with my darts shirts," said Littler.
"I cognize what I person done for the athletics and [it is] bully for kids to acquisition Alexandra Palace.
"Even seeing the darts academy unfastened successful Warrington, it is peculiar successful my location town."
As good arsenic his older brother, Littler's parents joined him connected signifier astatine Alexandra Palace to spot him observe his World Championship crown.
"They person enactment the hard enactment and effort into maine but conscionable to get them connected stage, and my brother's 21st [birthday] today, it is simply a bully present," Littler said. "My sister didn't privation to travel connected stage.
"It is not a mean 17-year-old's beingness but it shows what I person done for myself.
"My parents got the close sponsors for maine and they person besides done a batch for me."
Littler besides spoke astir the aboriginal of the PDC World Darts Championship and its location astatine the Alexandra Palace successful London.
'Ally Pally' has held the contention annually since the 2008 edition, but Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn has suggested successful caller interviews that the tourney could permission its iconic location due to the fact that of the maturation successful the sport's popularity.
In response, Littler called connected the PDC to see facilities for players erstwhile debating whether to determination venues.
"The guys astatine the PDC volition bash what is champion for them," Littler told the BBC.
"But astir apt 1 of the main things is you tin get an arena of 5,000 oregon 6,000 easy, but there's besides getting the likes of the hospitality tickets [and] the player's signifier rooms.
"We request determination to person a bully signifier and obviously, spot the family."
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