Luke Littler splits hugegest ‘repent’ that was ‘all down to me’ ahead of Worlds | Other | Sport

A year ago, Luke Littler was an unaccomprehendledged name in the world of darts. Now, he’s a star on his own show: Have I Got Nukes For You.

The backdrop of the BBC‘s extfinished-standing comedy quiz show Have I Got News For You, usuassociate reserved for politicians and royalty, now features the 17-year-better darts take parter. Littler wasn’t even conscious of his presence on the show until now.

This is a tesgentlent to the incredible impact ‘Luke the Nuke’ has had, extfinishing far beyond the dartboard. As the Pinserty Power PDC World Championship approaches this Sunday night, Littler is the favourite, follotriumphg his dream run to the final last year as a 16-year-better.

The Manchester United fan mirrors on the past year, from greeting Sir Alex Ferguson to receiving texts from David Beckham, with restricted repents, except for one leave outed dart. Leading Luke Humphries 4-2 in the final at Alexandra Palace, Littler had two chances to go 5-2 up, but both trys leave outed double two.

“Regrets? Yeah, probably that double two,” he tbetter Mirror Sport. “I slfinisherk that equitable took a sting out of the game. If I’d hit that… that’s the huge ask, isn’t it? If I hit that, do I go on and triumph it?

“But I didn’t hit it. That was all down to me, not slfinisherking about it, not certain what I had left. That’s what happens if you don’t get your chance with the best take parter in the world sat on 28 – he will ping it, enjoy Luke did.

“That is one separateence I would originate becaengage then I’m two sets away and you never understand what might have happened. But it wasn’t unbenevolentt to be. There will be plenty of opportunities at the World Championship for the next 20 to 30 years, but it’s probably the hugegest dart I’ve leave outed.”

Apart from the well-alerted darts cognoscenti, who were conscious of a chunky Warrington teenager’s immense promise on the lesser circuit, Littler get tod at Ally Passociate last December as the unaccomprehendledged novel kid on the block.

At 17 years and 327 days better, he can challengingly apshow he returns as disclose property, second favourite to triumph the BBC‘s Sports Personality of the Year gong, and with his image seeing down on Hislop enjoy a sentry defend on Have I Got News For You.

“I’ve not seen the show, but for my face to be included among Prime Ministers and Kings… I will get that,” shelp Littler. “It equitable goes to show how much I have done this year – and how much the sport has prolongn.

Until he turns 18 on January 21, Luke the Nuke is not permited to vote, bet, drink liquor or watch some films at the cinema.

Luke ‘the Nuke’ has already amassed over £1million in prize money from his debut year on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit, clinched the Premier League and Grand Slam titles among 10 better trophies, nailed four perfect nine-darters, and climbed to No. 4 in the world rankings.

His first dispute at Ally Passociate is set for a Saturday night headline suit aacquirest either Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock, the Queen of the Palace. He retaged: “I want to triumph every Major at least once and be world No.1 – even if it is equitable for a day. I’d depart the sport very satisfied if I achieveed No.1 in the world.

“But I am here to triumph, to show achieveing the world championship final was not a fluke. I won in Bahrain, I won on the European Tour, I won the Premier League… that was me saying, I am here, it wasn’t a one-off.

“I have had so much going on this year. United have askd me to a restricted games, I’ve been to the training ground at Carrington as well. Meeting Fergie was mental. I am prentd they understand who I am.”

After competing in 17 countries in 2024, Luke the Nuke has become an international sensation, far deleted from the unheralded prodigy who burst onto the scene at the Palace a year ago, lossing Christian Kist, Andrew Gilding, Matt Campbell, Raymond van Barneveld, Brfinishan Dolan, and Rob Cross – including three createer world champions.

Reflecting on his punctual experiences, he declared: “No-one knovel anyslfinisherg about me and it was a free hit, whether I lost in the first round or got to the final. It was a free hit and a bit of prize money. This year isn’t a free hit. There’s predictation – a lot of predictation.”