Luke Littler, the 19-year-old darts prodigy known as “The Nuke,” stands on the brink of immortality in the sport. Having exploded onto the scene as a 16-year-old runner-up at the 2024 World Darts Championship, he has since dismantled the field’s best, amassing an astonishing collection of titles that would make legends like Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen nod in approval. Back-to-back World Championship triumphs—the first such feat in a decade—crowned his latest glory, as he thrashed rival Gian van Veen in the final earlier this month at Alexandra Palace to claim the £1 million Sid Waddell Trophy for the second straight year. Along the way, Littler has conquered the UK Open, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals, and even the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, where he averaged a blistering 112 against van Veen en route to victory just before his 19th birthday. At world No. 1, with ten major PDC titles already under his belt, he has won eight of the ten key televised events, leaving just two glaring omissions: the Winmau World Masters and the European Championship.
Now, all eyes turn to Milton Keynes’ Arena MK, where the 2026 Winmau World Masters kicks off today in a unique best-of-three-legs sets format that demands razor-sharp consistency from the very first dart. This iconic tournament, revived in recent years and packed with history, offers Littler the chance to edge closer to a clean sweep of PDC-ranked TV majors. Defending champion Luke Humphries opens against Dave Chisnall, while five-time winner Michael van Gerwen faces Damon Heta. But it’s Littler’s path that electrifies: he begins against Mike De Decker, a familiar foe he’s beaten in all seven prior encounters. Last year, Littler stormed through his debut with straight-set thrashings of Andy Baetens and James Wade before stumbling 4-1 in the quarter-finals to Jonny Clayton, who went on to finish runner-up. That defeat stings as the only blemish in an otherwise flawless rampage through majors afterward.
Enter Gian van Veen, the 23-year-old world No. 3 and Littler’s latest vanquished foe. Making his World Masters debut against Ryan Joyce, van Veen isn’t shying away from the hype. “The pressure is always going to be on Luke,” he warned. “Everyone expects Littler to win pretty much every time he plays, which he’s not going to do, but he’s going to be favourite for all of them—especially this one. He said he wants to win the World Masters and the European Championship, so he’s going to be extra dangerous in those tournaments. I’m curious to see how far he goes!” Van Veen’s words carry weight; their head-to-head rivalry has intensified, with Littler vowing to keep battling for supremacy after their World Championship showdown. Yet, the Dutch star sees vulnerability in the expectations—he knows no one dominates forever, even a phenom averaging over 104 in early rounds without dropping a set.
Jonny Clayton, the man who halted Littler’s charge last year, adds a cheeky twist laced with respect. “I must have upset him, I think, when I beat him! When he writes his book in years to come, it will say he lost against me the first time we met each other on the stage!” Clayton gushes over Littler’s talent: “He’s just fantastic… got everything. I think if he played blindfolded, he’d be a tough man to beat! He’s a good kid and he’s a good character for the game of darts. And with the way he plays, what more do you want? You’re going to enjoy watching Littler play darts. He uses all the board… he’d just hit any double for fun.” Comparing him to Taylor, van Gerwen, and Humphries, Clayton calls the World Masters “anybody’s game” due to its quirky format, but admits Littler’s relaxed demeanor makes him “even more dangerous” chasing a first title here.
Former pro Paul Nicholson echoes the hype but flags a potential chink: Littler’s struggles in Germany, where he’s yet to average 100 across three European Championship matches, exiting early twice. Still, Nicholson predicts victory this week, noting the three-leg sets level the field but Littler’s form—highlighted by a 115.96 Premier League average, the 16th highest ever on TV—makes him unstoppable barring a rare off-day.
As arrows fly starting Thursday through Sunday, the Arena MK will pulse with anticipation. Littler, ever the showman, has shattered records, notched nine-darters, and turned skeptics into believers. Van Veen’s warning hangs in the air like a poorly aimed treble 20: expectations are sky-high, but perfection is fleeting. Will The Nuke detonate once more, or will the pressure finally crack his armor? One thing’s certain—darts has never witnessed a chase quite like this.
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