Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, who recently made waves in the sports world, is marking his 18th birthday in a very down-to-earth way.
Instead of going all out, he’s opted for a quiet celebration, streaming himself playing FIFA while connecting with fans online.
A Historic Year for Littler
Littler turned 18 on Tuesday, but his achievements have already been the stuff of legends.
At just 17 years old, he became the youngest world champion in darts history, defeating Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling final at Alexandra Palace earlier this month.
His victory capped off an extraordinary debut year on the PDC Tour, which also saw him win the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts.
Celebrating at Home
Despite his monumental successes, Littler decided to keep things simple for his birthday.
He shared that he planned to celebrate “at home” before diving back into his intense darts schedule.
His father was even spotted picking up a takeaway dinner for the family, adding a touch of normality to what has been an extraordinary year for the young athlete.
Fans flocked to social media to wish him well, with one sharing a video of him playing FIFA and commenting, “Celebrating Luke Littler’s birthday: the world champion of darts is 18 today, doing FIFA on TikTok.”
A Promising Future Ahead
Looking back on his first year, Littler described the journey as “difficult” at times, especially with all the travel and tournaments.
However, he gave himself an early birthday present by winning the World Championship, setting the stage for what he hopes will be many more titles to come.
“It’s the start of the year when the crazy schedule is,” he said, acknowledging the busy months ahead.
With his Ally Pally triumph now behind him, many are expecting even greater things from Littler.
In fact, he believes he has the potential to break Phil Taylor’s record of 16 World Championship titles—if he stays motivated and continues his ascent.
A Young Star with Big Shoes to Fill
Phil Taylor, a darts legend in his own right, spoke about Littler’s future, noting that the young champion now has a “target on his back” as others aim to take him down.
While Taylor praised Littler’s humility and grounded nature, he warned that staying at the top would require hard work and dedication, as the spotlight would only grow brighter.
A Rising Star in the Darts World
Littler’s remarkable success has already brought him significant earnings, with over £1.6 million in prize money alone.
However, his income from sponsorships has far surpassed that, thanks to partnerships with top brands.
He has quickly become a household name, drawing attention to darts like never before.
From making the cover of Forbes magazine to appearing on the Jonathan Ross Show, Littler’s influence stretches far beyond the oche.
Matchroom president Barry Hearn has even referred to him as “the gift that keeps on giving,” comparing him to the global impact of Tiger Woods.
According to Hearn, Littler’s grounded demeanor and unshakable focus at such a young age are remarkable, and he believes darts is on the verge of even greater global success, with Littler at the forefront.
As for Littler, with a historic start to his career, the future looks incredibly bright.
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