‘It wasn’t a fluke’: Luke Littler ‘here to win’ in Australia, opens up on ‘crazy’ darts rise

Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm this year and the teenager is in Australia this week, determined to continue his red hot form.

Matthew Sullivan

4 min read

August 8, 2024 - 1:06PM

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The eyes of sports fans are trained on the Paris Olympics right now, but one of the biggest young stars in world sport is in Australia this weekend and the joint might just explode if he wins.

The best darts players in the world are descending on Wollongoing for the Australian Darts Masters and it’ll be the hottest ticket in town to get along to the WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

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The headline act is Luke Littler, the 17-year-old from England who made a fairytale run to the Worlds Darts Championship final at the start of the year, going down in a thrilling battle with Luke Humphries.

Nicknamed ‘Luke the Nuke’, Littler has quickly became a cult hero with 1.4 million Instagram followers.

He’s gone from strength to strength this year, erasing any concern he was a one-hit wonder.

Littler has won the Bahrain and Poland Darts Masters, as well as the Belgian and Austrian Darts Open.

The teenager also nailed a nine-darter on his way to becoming the youngest Premier League Darts Champion in London in May.

“After the world championships I went over to Bahrain and won there and proved to everyone it wasn’t a fluke and I’m here to win,” Littler told news.com.au ahead of the Australian Darts Masters.

Luke Littler has taken the darts world by storm. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“I’m not surprised by myself. I know I’ve got the darts to win most of these competitions and I think the world championship really showed it.

“For the Premier League, people doubted me and I didn’t get off to a good start, but I came out the winner of the Premier League and I’ve won many competitions.”

The teenager left school last year to pursue a darts career and his run at the world championship has fast-tracked his rise from prodigy to professional.

“I’m just working my way up, now I’m 23rd in the rankings.

“I’m just enjoying it, visiting different cities in Europe and out of Europe. I was in New York and now in Australia. I’m just grateful for the opportunities I’m getting.

“Ever since the world championships it’s been crazy for myself and my family. I do get spotted, that’s just part of my job. But I only get spotted because of how well I’m doing.

“Now I’m just settling in with the other players. Obviously I’ve won a lot of competitions already. This is my job. I’m going to be in the game for a fair few years.”

Littler is having a superb darts season.. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Also in Wollongong will be Australians Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock, along with England’s Michael Smith and Luke Humphries — winners of the past two world championships.

Little is now rubbing shoulders with “guys that I looked up to in my younger days”.

“These guys have been in the game for many, many years and I’ve come along,” he said.

“I just love playing on the stage in front of fans. It’s unbelievable to be playing against these professionals week in, week out, and put my hat in to play against the best.”

You can tell the young man from Warrington lives and breathes darts. Asked what his approach to the game is, he said: “Just enjoy it.

“Obviously I try my best to win every competition but if not, just play well for the fans that have paid money to watch us.

“A nine-darter is always a great feeling. Do it for the fans and do it for yourself at the end of the day.”

Luke the Nuke is taking his talents to Wollongong. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

What’s the secret to throwing darts well?

“For me it’s just practice,” Littler said.

“It’s all about the arm and where your elbow is. You’ve got to try keep that straight but sometimes you get carried away and throw sloppy darts. But that happens.

“I don’t practice every day. When I’m home I just like to chill out because usually I’m on a flight, hotel, playing darts — I’ll be home for one day and back on a flight.

“When I do practice it’s just 501 against the computer. I up the dart bot and challenge myself against it.”

With its tournament play format and iconic fan atmosphere, darts would be a logical addition to upcoming Olympics as the Games aims to attract different audiences.

Smith has previously called for darts to be added to the Olympics.

“I don’t know if it should or shouldn’t (be in the Olympics),” Littler said. “A lot of countries play darts but it’d be good one day in the future.

So what can Aussie darts fans expect in Wollongong this weekend?

“I can assure you the fans in Wollongong are going to enjoy it, it’s once every year,” said Littler, who is visiting Australia for the first time.

The Australian Darts Masters will be held over two sessions. On Friday, the top eight PDC players will take on the eight local players from the Oceanic region. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals will take place on Saturday.

Watch the Australian Darts Masters on Kayo Sports.