In the world of darts, few stories capture the imagination quite like that of Luke Littler, the teenage sensation who has taken the sport by storm. A recently resurfaced video of Littler, barely three years old, throwing darts with astonishing precision has gone viral, amassing over 2.3 million views and cementing his status as a prodigy whose talent was evident from toddlerhood. The grainy footage, set to the iconic tune of Snap’s *I’ve Got the Power*—the walk-on music of darts legend Phil Taylor—shows a nappy-wearing Littler confidently hurling magnetic darts at a board in his Warrington home, already displaying the focus and flair that would define his meteoric rise.
Now 18, Littler has become a household name, thanks to his remarkable performances at the PDC World Darts Championship. At just 16, he made history as the youngest player to reach the final, defeating seasoned champions like Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross before falling to world number one Luke Humphries. His journey continued in 2025, when, at 17, he clinched the PDC World Championship title against three-time champion Michael van Gerwen, earning £500,000 and the title of the youngest world champion in darts history. Reflecting on his early start, Littler shared, “It’s crazy watching myself at 18 months or two years old in a nappy, but it has all paid off.” His words underscore a lifelong dedication to the sport, sparked by a magnetic dartboard he pointed out in a shop as a toddler, a moment he recalls as the beginning of his darts obsession: “One day we went to a shop with my parents, and I pointed to a magnetic dartboard because they look similar. The rest is history.”
The viral clip not only highlights Littler’s natural talent but also his infectious enthusiasm for the game. In the video, he can be seen shouting “180!”—a nod to the maximum score in darts—after landing his shots, a precocious celebration that mirrors the charisma he now brings to the oche. By age four, Littler had graduated to a proper dartboard, albeit at a lower height, and by nine, he was competing in pubs against adults. His parents, Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler, played a pivotal role in nurturing his talent, steering him away from football at age nine to focus on darts. “When I said to him, you need to keep playing darts, he was OK with it,” his father recalled, noting the countless early mornings spent driving Littler to competitions. This parental support, combined with Littler’s relentless practice during the pandemic, laid the foundation for his dominance in youth circuits and eventual breakthrough on the professional stage.
Littler’s rise has transcended darts, earning him accolades from peers and fans alike. Former world champion Rob Cross, whom Littler defeated in the 2024 semi-finals, praised his impact: “Everyone loves an underdog story. He’s fantastic and he deserves all the luck in the world—he is a nice young boy.” Littler’s charm, coupled with his ice-cold mentality under pressure, has made him a fan favorite. His 2024 season was a trophy-laden triumph, with victories in the Bahrain Masters, Belgium Darts Open, and Premier League, where he achieved multiple nine-dart finishes, a feat that has put him on track to break records. Off the oche, Littler remains a typical teenager, indulging in video games like EA Sports FC and savoring takeaways from his local Hot Spot, which now boasts a wrap named in his honor.
The viral footage of a three-year-old Littler serves as a poignant reminder of his extraordinary journey. From a toddler mimicking his idols’ celebrations to a world champion parading his trophy at Old Trafford, Littler’s story is one of talent nurtured by dedication and a love for the game. As he continues to dazzle on the global stage, the darts world watches in anticipation, knowing that ‘The Nuke’ is just getting started.
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