As Luke Littler knows better than most, there are innumerable moments that shape a champion and crucial choice that shape the course of a race long before they call bright lights and great occasions.
For Littler, who was only 17 when he defeated Michael Van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace last month to become the youngest player to win the PDC World Darts Championship, an early seminal moment arrived.
Littler was only nine years old when his father, Anthony Buckley gently redirected the focus of the young center -Back: “No one was happening to me,” Littleler told Ally Pally journalists last year, away from the football field and towards the oche .
“He was a good footballer,” Buckley said. 'He loved football. All children do it. But I told him at nine, hangs his boots, focus on darts. You can still play football here and there. But if there is compensation from Darts on weekends, go Darts first.
“Make your priority, because I thought I could do it in Darts, and he has done it. When I told him, you must continue playing the darts, I agreed with that. We put it in each competition that was online.
The list of athletes who could have followed successful races in another discipline is long and illustrious. The Lebron James basketball legend was once a promising open receiver, and even considered exchange NBA for the NFL during the 2011 block.
Luke Littleler's decision to focus on darts instead of football by suggestion of his father Anthony Buckley has reaped dividends for the 18 -year -old.
Littler has been called 'Cristiano Ronaldo de los Darts' by Childhood coach Karl Holden
The teenager proudly paraded his trophy for the world title of PDC in the field in Old Trafford when Manchester United faced Brighton last month
Rafael Nadal, whose paternal uncle Miguel Angel Nadal played for Barcelona and Spain, opted for tennis about football at the age of 12. And Keely Hodgkinson, who won 800m of gold at the Paris Olympic Games, was a promising swimmer until her parents persuaded her to choose to choose to choose from running.
For Littler, an avid supporter of Manchester United who also appreciates the game more generally, judging by his visits to see rival teams, including arsenal and Tottenham, the dreams of becoming the next Ferdinand River would not approach Darts' by Karl Holden, his childhood coach.
However, the 18 -year -old, who for the first time exercised magnetic dart as a small child and won his 14 -year senior title at the age of 14, could never have become a family name without the sacrifices made by Buckley, a former Warrington taxi driver.
“Sometimes you get up at 7 am on a Saturday, my only day off, just to play darts,” Buckley He told The Times. “There were no lies.”
While Buckley's task was easier for Littler's innate passion for dart Sleeping, darts, repeating ” – – – – – – – – – – – – there was still a conversation when the time came for his nine -year -old to stop football.
“I didn't realize that I was going to be so good,” Littleler told BBC Radio 2. “I played football in advance, every child, every young man, wants to be a footballer.
“My dad said:” Hang your boots, let's concentrate on darts. “I thought:” Although I love it. “
“My dad said:” I think your ability to be a professional, you have great opportunities. ”
Littleler's friend and rival
Littler poses with former United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson during his visit to Old Trafford at the beginning of last year
Man United first welcomed his greatest admirer after his career in the 2024 PDC Dards World Championship that made him a family name
The Darts Wonderkid managed to take a selfie with Captain United Bruno Bruno Fernandes during a visit to Old Trafford
'My dad knew it.'
Hard love? Sometimes, no doubt. Nathan Aspininll, currently occupied the 11th place in the PDC ranking, recalled after his 5-2 quarterfinal defeat against Littler in Alexandra Palace last month how he initially felt that Buckley was a difficult task master.
“The first time I met Luke, I think it was in Chester in a tournament and I won it 4-3,” said Aspinall. “I was thinking:” Companion, he is 12 years old, “and was among the top 16 in the world at that time. I said:” Give him a break. “
“His father said:” No, he needs to learn. ” That difficult talk over the years has probably produced one of the best players of our sport. ''
The strength of Buckley's judgment is reflected in his son's amazing trophy, the victory of the Littler's world title was hard to the floors of 10 senior PDC trophies last year, as well as in the five bedroom house on the outskirts of Warrington that Littler now shares. His parents.
The rented accommodation is very far from the two -room semi of £ 180,000 in which Littler grew and, nevertheless, for all Littler's success, the family remains refreshing.
Although the adolescent prodigy told £ 500,000 for his victory in Ally Pally, carrying his profits to around £ 1.5 million in total, the holidays with which they marked their success was taken in Benidorm instead of a more exotic location such as Dubai or the Maldives .
In fact, the only external sign of Littler's wealth is the Heuer clock of £ 5,500 that was treated last year.
“This is the only elegant thing in my wardrobe,” Littler recently told Mail Plus. 'I don't want elegant bags or anything like that. Apart from the clock, I want to save my money and save.
Thank you in large part to the influence of your father, Littler has become a star so far from today's modern footballer that leads Ferrari, as you could imagine.