Darts wonderkid Luke ‘the Nuke’ Littler, 16, goes head-to-head with rival ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Humphries, 28, to win the World Dart Championships in front of a VERY merry Ally …
- Pictures show fans donning their finest fancy dress as they get the pints in
By Danya Bazaraa[1] and Frankie Elliott[2]
Published: 16:54, 3 January 2024 | Updated: 00:45, 4 January 2024
Teenage sensation Luke Littler[3] battled it out with number-three seed Luke Humphries in the World Darts Championships final at London’s Ally Pally.
Littler, 16, was aiming to become the youngest-ever winner of the tournament against the world number one and pre-tournament favourite Humphries, 28.
The winner will pocket GBP500,000, as well as the Sid Waddell trophy, and the two world class talents had been entertaining the raucous live crowd, as well as the millions watching on TV, with their performances at the oche on Wednesday night.
Fans had been flocking into the capital all day, with pictures showing darts lovers donning their finest fancy dress mixing with celebrities such as Romeo Beckham and Derek Chisora[4].
Elsewhere – pubs, bars and sports clubs are packed across the country for one of the biggest sporting events in recent times.
Teenager Littler grabbing the sporting world’s attention with his dazzling displays in the capital over the two-and-a-half weeks
Luke Humphries is the current world number one and was many people’s pre-tournament favourite
The Alexandra Palace crowd are in fine voice for tonight’s final
Fans have been flocking into the capital all day, with pictures showing darts lovers donning their finest fancy dress mixing with celebrities such as Romeo Beckham and Derek Chisora
Darts fans pictured outside a pub near Alexandra Palace
Fans of Littler, also known as the ‘Prince of Darts’, have packed into the pub in which the dart’s prodigy’s brother works and his father attends regularly
Romeo Beckham is in attendance with his girlfriend Mia Regan
Derek Chisora at Alexandra Palace for tonight’s final
Fans in the build up to the final between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries
Littler trained at St Helens Darts Academy at Sidac Social Club, and the venue is packed with fans to watch him in the final
Fans have begun flocking to London ‘s Alexandra Palace ahead of tonight’s World Darts Championship final
Fans have started drinking before a historic final which could see the youngest ever world champions crowned
The Millhouse in Warrington, Cheshire, has cancelled its regular pub quiz and is packed with fans who will watch the final on a big screen
Many darts-lovers have come in fancy dress for the big night at Alexandra Palace
Fans have started to arrive at Alexandra Palace in a number of different costumes for tonight’s final
Teenager Littler had been grabbing the sporting world’s attention with his dazzling displays in the capital over the two-and-a-half weeks.
‘The Nuke’ arrived at the venue on his own just before 5pm, wearing a black hooded coat and grey rucksack before quickly heading inside to prepare for the big event which could see him win GBP500,000. Asked if he was excited for the final, he simply replied: ‘Yeah.’
Despite losing the match, Littler left the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday six figures richer, claiming either a GBP200,000 prize for finishing as runner-up as world number one Humphries walked away victorious.
As usual fans were dressed in a range of fancy costumes. One fan was seen wearing a T-shirt saying ‘darts & beer, that’s why I’m here’ as he gets into the spirit nice and early at a nearby pub.
Others have come dressed in Christmas-themed suits, or as life-size traffic cones, as they prepare to witness what could be an historic sporting moment.
Fans of Littler, also known as the ‘Prince of Darts’, have packed into the pub in which the dart’s prodigy’s brother works and his father attends regularly.
The Millhouse in Warrington, Cheshire, has cancelled its regular pub quiz and is packed with fans who will watch the final on a big screen.
Lisa Leyland, the Pub’s landlady, says it was touching to see Littler reach the pinnacle of the sport at such a young age.
Ms Leyland is handing out free Tangos to punters in the venue, which is Luke’s favourite drink along with a kebab, which he has been seen eating after every victory during this tournament.
His brother Leon, 20, is usually seen pulling pints in the establishment, but travelled to London with his baby son George with his partner Katie for the final.
Leon had joined many proud locals to cheer on the teenage star from The Millhouse during earlier rounds including his 6-2 semi-final victory over 2018 World Champion Rob Cross on Tuesday.
Littler trained at St Helens Darts Academy at Sidac Social Club, and the venue is packed with fans to watch him in the final.
Youngsters aspiring to follow in the Cheshire man’s footsteps can be seen practicing on the club’s dart boards which were once used by one of tonight’s finalists.
The club invited fans to come down from early evening to play on its dart boards, before watching the dramatic game unfold.
On its Facebook page, the club said ‘our Luke’ had been ‘fantastic’ – adding in a message to him: ‘All our players and committee are so proud of you.’
Supporters waved banners saying: “Come on Luke ‘The Nuke’ you can do it!” and “It’s not a fluke that Luke is the Nuke.”
Darts professional Eleanor Cairns, 19, the 2022 Girls World Champion, also trained at the academy and was back at the club to cheer on her best pal, Littler.
Eleanor, from St Helens, said: ‘He had a natural talent since the day he came here.
Everyone was talking about him then and he has just proceeded to win more titles.
‘And now everyone knows about him. Everyone has heard the name Luke Littler. It has been incredible to watch.
‘Win or lose I’ll be proud of him.’
Jake Callaghan, 10, has played against Luke.
He said: ‘He is so good.
‘I have played against him a few times and he is so hard to play against.
‘I hope to be a good as him one day.’
‘Luke the Nuke’ arrived at the venue on his own just before 5pm, wearing a black hooded coat and grey rucksack before quickly heading inside to prepare for the big event
Regardless of the outcome, Littler will leave the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday six figures richer, claiming either a GBP200,000 prize for making the final or half a million for winning it against number-three seed Humphries, 28
Lisa Leyland, the Pub’s landlady, says it was touching to see Littler reach the pinnacle of the sport at such a young age
Jake Callaghan, 10, has played against Luke and is cheering on the teenager tonight
A group of fans dressed as leprechauns wait outside Alexandra Palace
A couple of fans enjoy a game of darts before the main event at 8.30pm tonight
Fans of dart sensation Luke Littler pack out The Millhouse in Warrington, Cheshire
Pictures show fans donning their finest fancy dress as they get the pints in to warm up for the big game
A group of men queuing up to enter Alexandra Palace in sparkling blazers and hats
Two lads enjoy a pint before watching their local hero attempt to win the World Darts Championship
Youngsters aspiring to follow in the Cheshire man’s footsteps can be seen practicing on the club’s dart boards which were once used by one of tonight’s finalists
One young player has clearly been inspired by Littler’s achievements so far
One man wears a ‘stand up if you love the darts’ t-swhilst standing next to his friend
Desperate fans have been trying to get last minute seats for tonight’s final, causing the Professional Darts Corporation site, powered by see tickets, to crash this morning.
A message read ‘we are currently processing the maximum possible number of bookings we are able to handle at one time’.
The PDC site said there were ‘no resale tickets available for this event. Please check back again later.’
Meanwhile touts have been attempting to flog tickets for as much as GBP1,170 on viagogo. For the final, they were originally selling for GBP81 for a table seat and GBP71 for a tiered ticket.
Tickets first go on sale in the summer and sell out quickly.
Many have been resorting to begging for tickets on social media – with one even saying he was ‘selling organs for a world darts championship final ticket.’
Those in a last minute panic for tickets admitted it was a ‘long shot’ as they put out pleas online.
‘Help a man out please,’ one fan asked.
One claimed he had spotted tickets going for GBP350, describing it as ‘crazy’.
While many searched for a chance to watch the final, others used it as an opportunity to cash in on their own tickets.
Messages by people saying they are selling their tickets to the final are also flooding X.
‘Have 4 darts tickets for ally pally for the final tonight. GBP85 each,’ one wrote.
Those in a last minute panic for tickets admitted it was a ‘long shot’ as they put out pleas online.
‘Help a man out please,’ one fan asked.
One claimed he had spotted tickets going for GBP350, describing it as ‘crazy’.
While many searched for a chance to watch the final, others used it as an opportunity to cash in on their own tickets.
Messages by people saying they are selling their tickets to the final are also flooding X.
‘Have 4 darts tickets for ally pally for the final tonight. GBP85 each,’ one wrote.
World Darts trophy on display ahead of the PDC World Darts final
A last minute scramble for tickets to watch 16-year-old Luke Littler take on Luke Humphries
Luke Littler celebrates victory in the semi-final against Rob Cross on day fifteen of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace
Luke Littler (left) met Luke Humphries (right) in the Hayling Island quarter-final in November 2019. The pair face off in the World Darts Championship final tonight
Many are taking to social media to sell their tickets to the final
Littler can’t help but smile as Rob Cross congratulates him on his semi-final victory
Luke Littler roars as he throws a final double-10 to claim victory against Rob Cross
Humphries, who has played the youngster in the past[5], has admitted he’ll have to ‘probably have to play the game of my life’ in order to see off the challenger, who has set the darts world ablaze with his skill and his humility in equal measure.
The world number one booked his place in tonight’s final with a 6-0 victory over Scott Williams.
Following his semi-final victory over Rob Cross, Littler confirmed he would be having a ham and cheese omelette for breakfast, and pizza for lunch on the day of the final.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I’ve just settled on that stage (in darts).
It takes myself a few legs to settle into a game but once I find that rhythm I’m good to go.’
Asked how he will keep his cool in tonight’s final, he added: ‘I’ve just got to stay focused throughout the game no matter how long it goes on for.
‘(In the final, I’ll do) what I’ve been doing – in the morning, go for my ham and cheese omelette.
‘Come in here, have my pizza, then I’m on the board, that’s what I’ve done every day.
‘If my game’s there, it’s there.
I threw well again and I’ve got over the line again.’
Before Litter won his semi-final contest against Rob Cross, the previous youngest World Championship finalist is Kirk Shepherd who was 21 years and 88 days in 2008.
The youngest winner is Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 years and nine months when he won his first title in 2014.
Should the teenager win tonight, he will rise into the World’s top ten, with marketing experts predicting he could earn ‘huge’ sums of cash from potential sponsorship deals.
Litter’s rise to stardom had lead to to calls for the final to be shown by free-to-air broadcasters.
The Liberal Democrats’ culture and sports spokesman Jamie Stone said on Tuesday night it would be “scandalous” if the 16-year-old’s match was not on free-to-air television.
However, Sky Sports confirmed today it had received no offers from free-to-air broadcasters to screen the final.
References
- ^ Danya Bazaraa (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Frankie Elliott (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Luke Littler (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Derek Chisora (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ played the youngster in the past (www.dailymail.co.uk)