Luke Littler has revealed that he is set to start learning how to drive now that he has turned 17. The darts sensation has risen to fame over the past few weeks following his breakthrough at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Littler burst onto the scene at Alexandra Palace on debut, cruising through the competition and winning over the ever-rowdy crowd. The teen beat several of his childhood heroes en route to the final, including Raymond van Barneveld, but ultimately saw his fairytale tournament come to a disappointing end when he was beaten by Luke Humphries in the final.
The Nuke proved that his performances at Ally Pally were no fluke last week when he won the senior title of his career, the Bahrain Darts Masters. Littler saw off Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price to reach the final before getting the better of Michael van Gerwen to lay down a marker ahead of the Premier League.
Pressure is mounting ahead of the opening night of the competition at Utilita Arena in Cardiff, but Littler has kept a lid on his emotions ahead of his debut and has instead been enjoying his 17th birthday. Following his celebrations over the weekend, the darts superstar revealed that he intends to do his dad a big favour and learn to drive.
He told the BBC: “It’s going to be a big thing, it saves my agent and my dad driving me. They can put their feet up on the dashboard rather than me doing it.”
On what he did for his birthday, he added: “I just chilled out and had a nice Chinese with my family. No-one can get me anything because I can get it myself.”
Over the festive period, Littler announced that he was sponsored by Skoda so was hopeful that they would reward him for his immense success with a new vehicle, though he may opt to purchase a car of his own given the funds he has received in the form of prize money.
Littler will be hoping that he can continue to assert himself as one of the best in the business in the Premier League, and he has the opportunity to gain revenge over Humphries on the opening night of the competition.
The world No. 1 lost his 20-game winning streak in Bahrain but is still viewed as the ‘one to beat’ by Littler, who explained: “He has been unbelievable. That is why he has won a world title and why he went on a 20-game winning streak. So now he’s the man to beat – and all the focus will be coming on to him.
“Hopefully the World Championship won’t be the last time we meet in a major final – and if it is me and Luke in every final, that would still be good. But you still have all those dangerous players out there – Michael Smith, Gezzy (Gerwyn Price) and Michael van Gerwen – and it’s going to be gruelling. “Everyone who has won a Tour card can beat you – you win a Tour card because you are one of the best.”
