The 17-year-old mastered his craft in an amateur darts league in Merseyside
Alison Atkinson, Committee Member of St Helens Darts Academy at SIDAC Social Club this evening(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Dozens of Luke Littler fans descended on St Helens Darts Academy this evening in hopes the teenager will make history. The 17-year-old is in the final of PDC World Darts Championships this evening where he will face Michael van Gerwen. If he wins, he would be the youngest-ever world champion in darts.
Luke reached the final after defeating Fazakerley-born Stephen Bunting 6-1 in the semi-final last night. It comes just a year after his sensational rise from obscurity to the final of the 2024 championships, where he was defeated by Luke Humphries.
Luke may have been born in Warrington but he trained at the St Helens Darts Academy, based at SIDAC Social Club on Leach Lane, Sutton Leach. He still visits the St Helens Darts Shop, owned by Karl Holden. Karl, who also runs the academy, told the ECHO he was “delighted” to see Luke play so well.
He said: “I’m feeling confident but it’s up to him now. I’ll get more into it when it starts but I just can’t wait to watch him – I love watching him anyway. I think he’s got a better chance this year after winning all the titles. I think he’s mentally better now.
Karl Holden, owner of St Helens Darts Shop and Academy at SIDAC Social Club this evening(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“He’s playing one of the best players in the world. I’m feeling so proud – there’s 16 committee members here and most of them were here when he started out playing.
“We’re just so delighted watching him playing so well and seeing what he’s achieved. We were only a little part of his career and helping him but all this effort we put in every week just gives every kid an opportunity to be like him.”
Alison Atkinson, a committee member who runs the Gold Group at the academy, told the ECHO she was “really proud” of Luke. She said: “I’m feeling really good and really looking forward to it – I’ve got a good feeling about tonight now.
“He’s got to the final for the second time in two years and I think now is his time to shine. They both played absolutely brilliantly last night so I think it’s going to be close but I’m hoping he can get over the line this time.
Children play at St Helens Darts Academy before watching Luke Littler compete in the World Darts Championship final, at SIDAC Social Club this evening(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“I’m feeling really proud of him. To see that he’s come through the academy – he’s played with my own son and other children here. He’s such a down to earth, genuinely lovely guy – it’s great to see how he’s come on so amazingly.
“He’s always been very good, he’s fabulous, but to see how he’s done in the last 12 months has been phenomenal. It’s massive for the club. It was massive last year and its not really stopped we’ve been full all year with waiting lists as long as our arm.
“It’s fabulous – the problem is we’ve got so many wanting to play but we don’t like to turn anybody down so we try and get them in as quickly as we can. It’s absolutely rocketed for us.”
Lorraine Callaghan, Committee Member of St Helens Darts Academy watches Luke Littler compete in the World Darts Championship final, at SIDAC Social Club this evening(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Lorraine Callaghan, committee member and treasurer at the academy, said Luke’s success was “massive for the club”. She told the ECHO: “I’m feeling really nervous now. I do think he’ll do it – I think it will be close but I think he will do it.
“It’s massive for the club – we’ve had so many people wanting to join the academy, there’s a huge waiting list already. I’m feeling really proud. Luke still comes to the club, hopefully next time he comes will be with a winners trophy.”