Littler by name, but a growing force at darts
Arrows run in our genes, say 16-year-old’s family, as the young sporting star is just two games from glory
ON HIS extraordinary march to the world championship semi-finals, Luke “the Nuke” Littler, the 16-year-old darts’ sensation, has always made time to embrace his mother and father despite the cauldron of london’s Alexandra Palace.
And after a New Year’s Day victory that guaranteed him at least £100,000, Luke also managed to squeeze in a fervent kiss with the latest addition to his fan club – his new girlfriend.
Cameras showed Luke kissing Eloise, a beauty consultant and amateur darts player, after his victory over his 50-year-old opponent Brendan Dolan in the quarter finals. It was less a win and more of thrashing of the men against boys variety, albeit in reverse.
On Monday, Luke’s delighted grandfather Phil Littler reposted a message from Eloise on Instagram in which she had shared a picture of the pair together and Luke on stage. She added the message: “The dream carries on. Incredibly proud of you!”
Luke is now in with the chance of winning £500,000 should he go on to win the tournament. Bookmakers immediately made him the tournament favourite after it appeared his biggest obstacle was a wasp that stung him on his throwing arm during the quarter final watched by a raucous crowd.
Luke’s next game is tonight against the former world champion Rob Cross with the final just 24 hours later.
MPS urged the broadcaster Sky to show the final – should Luke reach it – on a free-to-air channel to allow a greater audience to witness it.
Luke, from Warrington, in Cheshire, was watched live by his mother and father Lisa Littler, 40, and Anthony Buckley, 43, who he thanked for their support in the immediate aftermath. “My mum and dad have supported me, told me to get on the board in lockdown. Just a massive help - them two are the main people,” said Luke after the win.
His father had encouraged him to concentrate on darts from a very young age but his progress accelerated during the Covid lockdown. Luke said his older brother had been “better than me at one point” but now has a young child to bring up, leaving the younger sibling as the best darts player in the family.
The only threat to his emphatic four sets to one win was when the “Ally Pally wasp” that has been buzzing around the arena in north London appeared to sting him midway through the match. “I felt a little zap, I saw it fluttering around near the end. It’s my throwing arm. It didn’t bother me. I felt a little bit,” he said.
His thrilled grandmother Carol Littler, 64, said she and husband Phil were hoping to make the trip down to London from their home in Runcorn, Cheshire, for the final provided she can get the day off work. She will make a special plea to bosses at the local town hall where she works.
She identified her grandson as a star at the age of just two when he first started playing the sport. She said Luke’s talent came from his grandfather Phil, a keen amateur player.
Mrs Littler, 64, from Runcorn, Cheshire, told The Daily Telegraph: “He started playing darts when he was two and you could see it [the talent]. He was born to play darts. He gets it from his grandfather..
“He is so laid back that he just doesn’t worry. He has nothing to worry about. He is 16.”
Phil Littler said: “I was never as good as he is. At the age of four he was playing on a proper board but needed a stool so he could reach up and pull his darts out.”
He said he had not needed to offer his grandson much advice over the years and praised Luke’s mathematical ability to work out the best number combinations during high-pressure matchplay. He was certain his wife will be given time off to make the trip down south should Luke win his semi-final match.
‘He started playing when he was two and you could see the talent. He was born to play darts’