Teenage darts sensation Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler charged into the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship finals with a commanding 6-1 win over Stephen Bunting in yesterday’s semi-final. The Warrington-based youngster is now set for a climactic battle with three-time champ Michael van Gerwen.
Yet, as the buzz grows around his upcoming battle, Good Morning Britain’s Adil Ray controversially poked fun at the young star’s appearance. According to the Daily Star, he recently said: “I’m a little bit worried about Littler. He’s 17 and he’s turning into the look of a darts player.”
Amidst concern for the player’s health, he added: “He’s going to get more successful and he can keep on doing it but I don’t want him to get too unhealthy… Just before the final. Here you go, I’ve got a salad for you from Pret!”
Littler turned heads at last year’s Ally Pally when contemplating whether to eat another kebab en route to the final. The Telegraph also noted that Littler isn’t one to shy away from omelettes and pizza ahead of games, coupled with a routine that involves plenty of sleep until midday.
“It is what I have been doing every day – if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” he said at the time, before adding later: “I just wake up, play on my Xbox, have some food, have a chuck on the board and go to bed, that’s it.”
However, the Daily Star has shed light on a recent shift in lifestyle for Littler, as he committed to healthier eating habits. “It’s not seen as a good thing [fast food]. Darts players get what we want [food wise], really,” he said, as per reports.
“My manager said ‘When you finish it could be 11 or 12, it’s all fast food’. So I’ve got to look after myself, eat before I play. When I’ve finished, even if I stay up to whenever, I just won’t eat. This is my new way of living.”
The darts star will face Van Gerwen in an upcoming match slated for today at 8:30pm GMT.