- Luke Littler claimed his first World Darts Championship title earlier this month.
- Littler beat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in fascinating display at Ally Pally
- He also won the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts in the first year on the PDC Tour.
Luke Littler says he will enjoy a low-key 18th birthday celebration with his family as he has given himself the best early gift by winning the World Championship.
Littler celebrates becoming an adult on Tuesday and has already racked up a number of professional accomplishments most could only dream of.
The 17-year-old made history by becoming the youngest world champion when he beat Michael van Gerwen in the final at Alexandra Palace earlier this month to cap a stellar first year on the PDC Tour, where he also won the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts.
While turning 18 is a rite of passage for most young people and celebrated in style, Littler will have a smooth time, mainly due to the hectic schedule ahead.
He travels to Den Bosch for the Dutch Darts Masters later this week before the World Masters at the end of the month and the Premier League starting in February.
So instead of doing something big, Littler is more likely to sit at home watching the Sid Waddell Trophy with his family.
Luke Littler has revealed his plans for his 18th birthday celebrations following an impressive debut campaign on the PDC Tour.
The 17-year-old became the youngest player to win the World Darts Championship earlier this month. Pictured: Littler with his mother Lisa Littler, his father Anthony Buckley and his brother Leon.
“I don't really have anything planned because there are a lot of darts around this time,” he told PA.
'I'll probably do something at home before the crazy schedule starts. But the best early birthday gift I got was when I won the World Cup.
'My first year has been difficult, starting the year with the Premier League and traveling to the European Tours, I have been traveling all over the country.
“It's at the beginning of the year when the calendar is crazy.”
Littler's first Ally Pally title will be the first of many, unless something goes drastically wrong.
He has said that he is capable of breaking Phil Taylor's record of 16 if he has hunger and longevity.
Taylor admitted she would be happy to see her tally surpassed, but says Littler has a target on his back.
“Can it get better? I don't know,” Taylor told PA.
The Manchester United fan paraded the Sid Waddell Trophy in front of the fans at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor believes the teenager can improve even more
“I don't know him very well, he is a charming boy, a normal 17-year-old boy, he likes his phone, he is very calm and humble. He is not interested in money, but in family, he loves his mother and father.
“Now it's up to him, once you have that name you are a target, so you have to work hard and practice hard because now everyone is after you.”
Littler has earned more than £1.6 million in prize money for his oche achievements, a figure that has been dwarfed by his income from endorsement deals with high-profile brands.
He has almost single-handedly dragged darts into the mainstream since bursting onto the scene at the 2024 World Championships, transcending the sport and becoming a global name.
Littler was named runner-up in BBC Sports Personality of the Year, received a Brit Award, appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine and was a guest on the Jonathan Ross Show.
Interest in the sport has increased and Matchroom chairman Barry Hearn has called Littler “the gift that keeps on giving”.
“I now call it the Luke Littler effect, the gift that keeps on giving,” Hearn told PA in 2024.
'I would compare him to the British version of Tiger Woods. He is down to earth and doesn't seem to be discouraged, for a 17 year old that is simply amazing.
'I just think darts hasn't even begun to know where it's going to go globally.
“I've been in this business for 50 years and I've never seen anything like this in any sport, it's as simple as that.”