Luke Littler gave a big hint that he was going to take the sporting world by storm when he was just three years old.
The 16-year-old from Warrington, England has enjoyed a historic run to the final of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, becoming the youngest player to ever do so.
Nicknamed ‘The Nuke’, he is just now one win away from producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.
He has always been a star in the making as videos have emerged of him throwing darts as a toddler and imitating Raymond Van Barneveld’s famous celebration after he won his 2007 world title.
Littler was not born until 20 days after that famous match with Phil Taylor at the Circus Tavern, so few would have expected him to beat the Dutchman on his way to the last four in this year’s tournament.
But the way he demolished his hero in the last-16 tie showed that his breakthrough is no fluke.
He qualified for the tournament by winning the World Youth Championship in November after a prolific year on the Development Tour and that was another big sign that he was destined for the top.
In his early years he loved playing football and is an ardent supporter of Manchester United, but when his dad Anthony recognised his talent at the oche, he told his son to give up football as a nine-year-old and the rest is history.
It is difficult to imagine Littler – who also likes rugby league, supporting local club Warrington – going back to the typical 16-year-old that he was before the tournament started.
He enjoyed playing on his Xbox, FaceTiming friends and eating kebabs, but a different world will await him after his exploits in north London, whatever happens in the final against Luke Humphries tonight.
He has earned celebrity status and his exploits have already transcended the world of darts.
He has had pictures and exchanged messages with a host of top Premier League footballers.
Having secured at least a £200,000 [€230,000] pay check – £500,000 [€576,000] if he wins the tournament – and a PDC tour card for the next two years, it is clear that Littler will now be eating at the top table of darts.
Littler will stick with his diet of cheese and ham omelettes and pizza as he tries to complete his history-making World Championship dream.
“I’ll keep doing what I have been doing,” he said. “I don’t wake up until 12, in the morning go for my ham and cheese omelette, come here and have my pizza, and then go on the practice board.
“It is what I have been doing every day – if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”
