We have never witnessed the likes of Luke ‘the Nuke’ Littler. The darts prodigy has defied expectations with his minimalist training routines, sometimes scrapping practice altogether in between tournaments. Remarkably, Littler has declared that these days his preparation features playing in weekly competitions to maintain consistency.

The Prince of the Palace

Littler’s childhood indicated that becoming a darts professional was all part of the plan. Project ‘Nuke’ began when Luke, who was 18 months old, received a magnetic dartboard from his father, Anthony Buckley. Footage captured by Luke’s mother, Lisa Littler, shows him giggling and skilfully throwing darts while still in his nappies. Buckley, who was also a casual darts player himself, evidently passed on his passion for the game to his son, showcasing his extraordinary abilities at a young age.

A passion for darts quickly spiralled into an obsession. At the tender age of nine, Buckley urged Luke to hang up his football boots and ‘concentrate on darts’. Trips to the local Cheshire pubs became the family nightly routine, where Luke diligently honed his craft. Buckley shared with The Times, “Sometimes you’re getting up at 7 am on a Saturday — my only day off — just to play darts. There were no lie-ins.” This is often the harsh reality for most parents of gifted young talents. The sacrifices they make should not be underestimated.

Playing on a proper board at four, registering his first 180 at six, and a nine-dart finish at thirteen, his talent was undeniable. Luke participated in competitions even while he was still in primary school, challenging adults who were more than three times his age. “He’s a freak of nature, honestly, he really is. I’d say he’s the (Cristiano) Ronaldo of darts. He is one of the best players in the world at the age of 16,” a former coach at St Helens Darts Academy proclaimed.

One of the most pivotal moments in Luke’s young career came when he won the 2023 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Darts Youth Championship. It was only a matter of time before he established himself at the senior level. Subsequently, he made his debut in the prestigious PDC World Championships at the renowned Alexandra Palace at only 16 years of age. With the unwavering support of his parents, he astounded the boisterous crowd by defeating Christian Kist in the first round. To celebrate his memorable victory, he famously indulged in a kebab. Luke’s journey continued as he swiftly marched to the grand finale, only to fall short of achieving the fairy tale ending to Luke Humphries. Despite this obstacle, the world was undoubtedly introduced to the next darts superstar, dubbed the ‘Prince of the Palace’.

Gaming consoles and late nights: Littler’s training regime

Littler’s dramatic rise in the darts rankings has sparked much discussion about his training habits. “I don’t know why but I am always up until, like, 2 am or 3 am on my Xbox,” he told The Daily Mail. His casual approach to practice further emphasises his unique talents. Littler was asked about his daily practice time, and he simply replied, “Now maybe it is 20 minutes or half an hour. Because I have my talent, I don’t really need to do silly hours again. The hard work paid off and I don’t need to overdo myself anymore.”

Littler supported this theory of concentrating on short sessions and visualisation techniques, instead of long, gruelling practices. As he claimed, he didn’t practice at all for the two weeks between his Ally Pally defeat to Humphries and arriving in Bahrain, where he defeated Gerwyn Price, and Michael van Gerwen, and even hit a nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall.

This attitude stands in stark contrast to Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all time. With 16 World Darts Championship titles to his name, Taylor’s dominance in the sport is unparalleled. In a captivating interview with The Independent in 2002, Taylor delved into his meticulous training regime leading up to major tournaments. “I will start practising at 10.30 in the morning and play darts through until about 12. Then from 1 to 3, more practising. I’ll have another break until about 7 before playing for another hour and a half.”

Taylor emphasised the importance of the gym in building stamina during extended tournament sessions. Driven by his aspirations to remain at the pinnacle of the game and gain an advantage over his opponents, Taylor also underscores the crucial role of mental stamina. “It’s mostly natural ability. But, as in a lot of sports, a lot of it is in your head — I think about 70 per cent in my case.”

16 and nothing to fear, or is there?

As Taylor implies, mental fortitude is a significant factor in the sport. Ultimately, those who can manage the pressure of being in the spotlight are the ones who will succeed. What makes Luke Littler so special is his ability to maintain an incredibly composed demeanour, which is quite astonishing considering he’s just a teenager. In fact, he seems to thrive under the lights on the biggest stage.

Littler, a fervent Manchester United fan, faced boos from an 8,500-capacity crowd in Liverpool during his inaugural Premier League season in 2024. However, he embraced the reception with great humour, often cupping his hands to his ears and signalling “2–0” to the crowd ahead of his quarter-final match, in response to Liverpool’s defeat at Everton.

During his debut at the PDC World Championship, speaking to Sky Sports, he remarked, “I’m so young, only 16 and I have got nothing to fear.” Is there a valid argument that his ability to play with such freedom stems from his relaxed and casual approach to darts? Sports psychologist and former women’s world number one darts player, Dr. Linda Duffy, agrees. “This all helps him when it comes to having to cope with pressure because he knows how to relax and get some downtime in,” she said. This might also be attributed to the Junior Darts Corporation, who trained him to become mainstream by having him conduct media interviews while he was effortlessly defeating everyone else his age, which explains his impressive composure in front of the camera.

The only instance in the past year when he has truly allowed any pent-up emotions to manifest was after his tense victory over Ryan Meikle at the 2025 PDC World Championships.

Littler, the heavy favourite, was tipped to win the entire tournament this time. However, the match proved to be much tougher than he had anticipated. The unseeded Meikle squandered two set darts, allowing Littler to secure a first set where he didn’t resemble his usual ruthless self. Meikle managed to bounce back and level the score in the second set. Littler regained control in the third and then exploded into life in the fourth, achieving an astonishing average of 140.91.

He broke down in tears during his post-match interview and sought out hugs from his parents. “That was probably the toughest game I’ve ever played, but you’ve got to get over the line,” said an emotional Littler. It was perhaps one of the few instances when he appeared more like his age. His fellow players, including the veteran Gary Anderson, have been candid about the heightened media attention on the young player. At the 2024 PDC World Championships, Anderson expressed his thoughts, saying, “He’s had a great tournament, he’s done well. What if it all goes Pete Tong now? You boys have ruined that. Let the boy play darts, he’s 16 years old.”

Player welfare has been a topic of discussion in recent weeks. The current world number one, Luke Humphries, recently shared with Sky Sports that playing darts has become a “chore” due to the overwhelming darts schedule. “It’s not good for my mental state,” Humphries disclosed.

Even Luke Littler himself agreed with Humphries’ comments after his own unexpected first-round exit at the Players Championship this week. Many may argue that the professionals can choose which competitions to participate in, but this decision has become more challenging with Eddie Hearn’s recent announcement that prize funds will be increased across all levels of the PDC.

Alton Towers, tracksuits and FIFA points: Littler stays grounded

Luke Littler’s influence undoubtedly played a role in the recent prize fund increases. His youthful age, unwavering confidence, and humility have revolutionised the game. In fact, according to Google, he was the most searched-for athlete in the UK in 2024. Notably, Littler’s Instagram following has surged from 4,000 to 1.9 million in just 18 months. And to go full circle, Garry Plummer, the managing director of sponsors Target Darts, who initially signed a contract with Littler’s family when he was 12 years old, revealed that the junior magnetic dartboard was “selling out” in the lead-up to Christmas last year.

However, it appears that the fame hasn’t changed him. In multiple interviews with reporters, he mentioned that he would use the prize money from the 2024 PDC World Championships to take his friends on a trip to Alton Towers, purchase Under Armour tracksuits, and cash in some FIFA points.

Natural gifted vs “darts robot”

Luke’s accomplishments are so remarkable that we’ve almost become desensitised to the records he’s shattered. At the age of 17, Luke made history as the youngest person to ever lift the World Championship trophy. He comfortably defeated his rival, Michael van Gerwen, with a final score of 7–3. The gracious Van Gerwin asserted in his post-match interview, “I
sometimes say every 17 years a star is born, and Luke is one of them”.

He achieved an exceptional feat by winning the Premier League in his inaugural attempt in 2024. Currently, he leads the 2025 season, having amassed more than double the number of 180s compared to his second-placed opponent, Humphries. Former star, Wayne Mardle, expressed his admiration for the player on commentary, stating that “he may be the most naturally talented player I’ve ever seen”. Littler’s childhood idol, Raymond van Barneveld, had a rather unique perspective when they faced off earlier this year, describing his teenage opponent as a “darts robot.”

Max Verstappen, the current Formula 1 champion, has paved a similar path for Littler. His father, Jos Verstappen, had a successful career in Formula 1, racing for teams like Benetton and Tyrrell, from 1994 to 2003. Although Jos himself never won a World Championship, he has always been demanding of his son Max, even during his karting days as a boy.

In Viaplay’s Max Verstappen: Anatomy of a Champion documentary, Max recalled the time he squandered his opportunity to win the Karting World Championship in 2012. He made a hasty decision to regain the lead, which resulted in him spinning off the track. Jos was so furious that during the 17-hour car journey home, he kicked Max out at a nearby petrol station and drove off. While some may consider this controversial parenting, the tough-love approach has mentally moulded Verstappen into one of the greatest drivers of his generation.

At the age of 17 years and 166 days, Verstappen made his debut in Formula 1, becoming the youngest driver ever to achieve this feat. Then unbelievably at 18 years and 228 days, he further etched his name in history by becoming the youngest driver to secure a Formula 1 victory. Former competitor Kevin Magnussen, who has had the privilege of racing against Verstappen, has aptly described him as a “robot”, whilst shedding light on the unique qualities that make the Dutchman so extraordinary. Consequently, the comparisons described by Littler’s and Verstappen’s rivals are eerily similar.

Undoubtedly, both Littler and Verstappen possess an undeniable natural talent that sets them apart from the rest. However, I can’t help but wonder if the influence of their parents from a young age has fuelled their determination to make the seemingly impossible appear effortless.

Whether he’s supremely naturally gifted or a product of his upbringing, Luke Littler is a generational talent. His presence elevates darts to a new level, making it a much better sport. While his ability to match Phil Taylor’s 16 World Championship titles remains uncertain, we can only sit back, and witness greatness unfold before our eyes.