Luke ‘the Nuke’ Littler, fresh from his PDC World Championship victory at Ally Pally and pocketing a cool £500,000 in prize money, has set his sights on an A-Class Mercedes for his 18th birthday. The darting whizz-kid was bombarded with congratulations from none other than David Beckham and the Prime Minister following his stunning 7-3 final win over Michael van Gerwen.
With half a million quid and a nod from Goldenballs himself, it’s been quite the haul for the new King of the Palace. Yet to take driving lessons due to his skyrocketing fame, Littler is eager to hit the road before he hits his twenties.
“I’ve always loved a Mercedes A-Class – just a small car,” the young champ revealed. “Last year I was looking at driving and I loved the Ford Focus, but now I’ve gone up in the world just a little! ” Despite Britain’s No.1 tennis player Jack Draper cruising around in a second-hand Polo, Littler has his heart set on something a bit more luxurious, and who can blame him?
With his newfound wealth, any car in the showroom could be his. “I haven’t had driving lessons yet because it’s been so hectic, but I’m going to have to do it before I get into my twenties when it’ll be too late and I can’t be bothered.
“If I get a car, it won’t be a birthday present from anyone. I think it would have to be a birthday present from me to me.”
After the night’s festivities, Littler was surprisingly sharp following less than four hours of shut-eye, engaging with a barrage of breakfast TV appearances and wading through a deluge of messages on his phone. Of all the kudos, the one from Manchester United fanatic Beckham topped the list, simply writing: “He just said wow, well done.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, never one to miss out on public acclaim, offered his congratulations as Littler processed his newfound stardom.
The darting sensation can now see his name mentioned in the same breath as legends like Pele, who clinched the World Cup at 17, Wimbledon champ Boris Becker, and snooker’s wonderkid Ronnie O’Sullivan, crowned UK Open victor before turning 18. “It’s crazy to even think about being mentioned in the same sentence as some of the best sportsmen there’s ever been,” marvelled Luke the Nuke.
“Obviously I’m very different to normal 17-year-olds, but I am glad I’ve got into this darts world. I have knuckled down, I don’t go out wandering around the streets. I have really knuckled down and now it has paid off.”
For this darting ace, the game is about glory, not the financial reward, confessing: “This is why we play the game – for the titles. Obviously the money is there, but one thing I do enjoy when I do lift the trophy is when all the confetti comes down and the sparkles go up.”
Littler was on fire during Friday night’s match, hitting a staggering 56 per cent of his doubles, and slamming his favoured double 10 with the precision of a David Beckham free-kick. Before the showdown, he exuded calm, pumping himself up with a mix of house tunes through his AirPods.
Littler also shared an unconventional source of inspiration: “Since playing Martin Lukeman in the Grand Slam final, I also listen to his walk-on song (Lip Up Fatty by Bad Manners) all the time,” he revealed. Confidence soared for Luke the nuke once he took a commanding 4-0 lead against Van Gerwen, sensing victory.
The magnanimous Van Gerwen tipped his hat to the young prodigy, acknowledging: “I’m 35, he’s 17 – every 17 years a star is born, and he is one of them.”
Post-match emotions were high as Littler recounted, “When we were ready to do the trophy lift, I was crying and he was like, ‘Keep crying boy.’”
The backstage erupted in celebration after the win, with everyone going wild as they returned to the practice room.
