Darts sensation Luke Littler is marking his 18th birthday today with a quiet family celebration, opting to keep festivities low-key due to his packed tournament schedule.
The teenage star revealed he has no elaborate plans for the milestone birthday.
“I haven’t got anything planned really because there is a lot of darts around this time,” Littler told PA.
“I will probably just do something at home before the crazy schedule starts.”
Luke Littler won the world title earlier this month
REUTERS
The newly-crowned world champion has already given himself what he describes as “the best early birthday present” by winning the World Championship earlier this month.
Littler created history at Alexandra Palace by becoming the youngest world champion after defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
The victory came after a stellar first year on the PDC Tour, where he also claimed victories in the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts.
Littler’s schedule remains hectic in the coming weeks, with a trip to Den Bosch for the Dutch Darts Masters later this week.
This will be followed by the World Masters at the end of January, before the Premier League gets underway in February.
“It’s at the start of the year when the crazy schedule is,” Littler explained to PA.
Luke Littler is currently the man to beat in dartsReutersThe Manchester United supporter has already showcased his success at Old Trafford, where he paraded the Sid Waddell Trophy in front of fans on Sunday.
Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor believes Littler now has a target on his back following his rapid rise.
“It’s up to him now, once you have got that name you are a target so you’ve got to really buckle down now and practice hard because everybody is after you now,” Taylor told PA.
Matchroom president Barry Hearn has dubbed it “the Luke Littler effect,” comparing the teenager to Tiger Woods.
“I would compare him to the British version of Tiger Woods. He has his feet on the ground and doesn’t seem to get phased, for a 17-year-old that is just amazing,” Hearn said.
Littler’s impact has extended far beyond the darts world, with his achievements earning him mainstream recognition.
He has already earned over £1.6million in prize money, alongside additional income from high-profile sponsorship deals.
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Luke Littler was serenaded by the fans at Old TraffordPA
The teenage star finished second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards and appeared on the Jonathan Ross Show.
His meteoric rise has also seen him featured on the front cover of Forbes magazine.
“I have never seen anything like this in any sport,” Hearn remarked about Littler’s impact.