His childhood coach Karl Holden added that he had no doubts about how special Littler was when the lad left St Helens Darts Academy in Merseyside four years later aged 13
New world darts champion Luke Littler has left people in awe since his surname was the word to use to compare him with his opponents.
It turns out that when he was nine he was already so brilliant at the game he had to be pitted against under-21s.
His childhood coach Karl Holden added that he had no doubts about how special Littler was when the lad left St Helens Darts Academy in Merseyside four years later aged 13.
Karl said: “He was too good compared to anyone else.” And now – four years on at the age of 17 – Littler has become the youngest ever world darts champ.
Residents in his hometown of Warrington, Cheshire, are calling for a homecoming parade.
Labour councillor Mo Hussain, 58, said: “It is fantastic what he has achieved. We were hoping to do an open top bus for him but the weather is not the best. I think he’ll be given the freedom of Warrington… and a civic reception.”
Littler won the final on Friday at Alexandra Palace in North London, and was seen at the weekend with fans and his parents – shop worker Lisa Littler, 40, and Anthony Buckley, 43, a taxi driver by trade – close to his nearby hotel.
He was soon back in Warrington, and shared a photo of himself in bed at home with the trophy.
It is a similar picture to one of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi with the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022.
And alongside a photo of Littler winning the tournament and one of him as a very young lad, he wrote: “Journey’s been pretty good so far.”
The title came with £500,000. He cannot drive yet but has his eye on a Mercedes A-class. He said: “I loved the Ford Focus, but I’ve gone up in the world a little.”
During his World Championship debut last year aged 16, fans chanted: “You’ve got school in the morning.” But with his huge winnings, he won’t be one of those returning to school today.