Luke Littler showed outrageous confidence with gesture during World Championship match
On top of the world at the age of 16, Luke Littler was forgiven for getting ahead of himself. The now-household name has only been on the scene for a year, but what a year it’s been, coming from nowhere to becoming a three-time PDC Event winner. Littler made his name at last season’s World Championships and has been an elite force ever sinceGetty His incredible journey started just 12 months ago at the PDC World Championships where he performed well beyond his years to stage a record breaking run to the final in dart’s headline competition. There, he lost to eventual champion and world no.1 Luke Humphries – but he’d captivated a British and European audience over the Christmas and New Year period. On his way to the final ‘The Nuke’ took down giants of the game in Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross, but it was against Brendan Dolan where he really flexed his muscles. Littler went 2-0 down in the first set of their quarter-final, but after levelling the score, he had the chance to clinch it on one of dart’s notoriously most difficult check outs. With 170 left to find, he twice hit triple 20, setting himself up for an incredible bullseye finish. And when that second triple 20 dropped, the Alexandra Palace crowd were quickly aware of what was at stake. One cheer went up for the second dart, and then another when they realised the bull was on, Littler, hearing the anticipation, turned to face them. Asking the crowd if he should go for it, Littler showed his true showmanship and responded to the cheers with a smirk and a throw. However, he ended up wide of the outer bull, and then instantly became a meme with a hilarious glance away at the scoreboard. Dolan, on his part, stood aside stony-faced, and the move became an opinion divider, with some branding it arrogant. Littler turned to the crowd, turning up the noiseSky Sports Sky SportsHe then pulled a hilarious expression after failing to find the bull[/caption] Yet the confidence was justified, as he’d easily win 5-1, and even Dolan was applauding post-match. The Northern Irishman gave his victor a hug, and Littler then revealed: “As soon as I hit the winning double I was like two games away and Brendan said ‘well done, you can go all the way’ same as Raymond. “So, a lot of respect for Brendan as well as Ray for saying you can go all the way. “Unbelievable.” Littler fell just short with a 7-4 defeat to Humphries, but would go on to follow up his promise with a rise to the elite. A total of ten PDC titles followed, including Premier Event wins at the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League and the World Series, putting him close to millionaire status on earnings alone. On top of that, the showmanship has never wavered, and will be on display once again over Christmas and New Year – live on talkSPORT.
On top of the world at the age of 16, Luke Littler was forgiven for getting ahead of himself.
The now-household name has only been on the scene for a year, but what a year it’s been, coming from nowhere to becoming a three-time PDC Event winner.
His incredible journey started just 12 months ago at the PDC World Championships where he performed well beyond his years to stage a record breaking run to the final in dart’s headline competition.
There, he lost to eventual champion and world no.1 Luke Humphries – but he’d captivated a British and European audience over the Christmas and New Year period.
On his way to the final ‘The Nuke’ took down giants of the game in Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross, but it was against Brendan Dolan where he really flexed his muscles.
Littler went 2-0 down in the first set of their quarter-final, but after levelling the score, he had the chance to clinch it on one of dart’s notoriously most difficult check outs.
With 170 left to find, he twice hit triple 20, setting himself up for an incredible bullseye finish.
And when that second triple 20 dropped, the Alexandra Palace crowd were quickly aware of what was at stake.
One cheer went up for the second dart, and then another when they realised the bull was on, Littler, hearing the anticipation, turned to face them.
Asking the crowd if he should go for it, Littler showed his true showmanship and responded to the cheers with a smirk and a throw.
However, he ended up wide of the outer bull, and then instantly became a meme with a hilarious glance away at the scoreboard.
Dolan, on his part, stood aside stony-faced, and the move became an opinion divider, with some branding it arrogant.
Yet the confidence was justified, as he’d easily win 5-1, and even Dolan was applauding post-match.
The Northern Irishman gave his victor a hug, and Littler then revealed: “As soon as I hit the winning double I was like two games away and Brendan said ‘well done, you can go all the way’ same as Raymond.
“So, a lot of respect for Brendan as well as Ray for saying you can go all the way.
“Unbelievable.”
Littler fell just short with a 7-4 defeat to Humphries, but would go on to follow up his promise with a rise to the elite.
A total of ten PDC titles followed, including Premier Event wins at the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League and the World Series, putting him close to millionaire status on earnings alone.
On top of that, the showmanship has never wavered, and will be on display once again over Christmas and New Year – live on talkSPORT.
