In a night charged with emotion and history at London’s Alexandra Palace, 18-year-old Luke Littler etched his name deeper into darts folklore by successfully defending his PDC World Darts Championship title. The young Englishman, known as “The Nuke,” delivered a breathtaking performance to dismantle rising Dutch star Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final, reeling off seven consecutive sets after dropping the opener. Littler’s mastery was on full display—a three-dart average exceeding 106, 16 maximums, and a stunning 147 checkout to seal the victory—that left the packed crowd in awe and solidified his place among the sport’s elite.
This back-to-back triumph makes Littler only the fourth player in PDC history to retain the crown, joining legends Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, and Gary Anderson—the last to achieve the feat a decade ago. At just 18, he has now claimed the Sid Waddell Trophy twice in three attempts, having burst onto the scene as a teenage finalist two years prior. The £1 million winner’s prize—the first ever seven-figure payout in darts history—underscores the explosive growth of the sport, fueled in no small part by Littler’s own phenomenon. Yet, amid the confetti, tears, and roaring celebrations, it was the champion’s immediate words on stage that captured hearts and earned widespread praise for their grace and humility.
As the emotions poured out and family rushed to embrace him, Littler stepped to the microphone for his post-match interview. His very first remarks were not about his dominance or the historic achievement, but a heartfelt tribute to retiring darts icons and a poignant message of condolence. “It feels amazing,” he began. “First of all, I’ve got to say thank you to John McDonald and George Noble—what fantastic careers they have had. In my first year Russ Bray retired, now these two legends! I’m a bit late to the party!”
This nod to the retiring referees McDonald and Noble, who have been fixtures in the sport for decades, struck an immediate chord. Fans and pundits alike hailed it as a classy touch from a teenager who could easily have focused solely on his own glory. But Littler wasn’t done. He then addressed a tragic event that had rocked the sporting world earlier in the week: a fatal car crash involving British boxer Anthony Joshua, which claimed the lives of two of his close friends while Joshua escaped with minor injuries.
“I’ve been wanting to say this,” Littler continued solemnly. “Everyone knows what happened with Anthony Joshua and his guys and his team and his friends. Rest in peace to his friends.” Only then did he lighten the mood with a playful nod to Joshua’s famous post-fight quip: “Just like AJ said, ‘the first time was so nice, I had to do it twice!'”
This sequence—prioritizing gratitude to retiring figures and sympathy for a fellow athlete’s loss before celebrating his own feat—drew admiration across the darts community and beyond. Many noted how it revealed Littler’s maturity far beyond his years, a young star who remains grounded amid unprecedented success. “Gian, what a tournament, he can be very happy,” Littler added generously about his beaten finalist, acknowledging van Veen’s impressive run that included victories over former champions like Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson.
Reflecting further, Littler admitted the unique pressure of defending the title: “Nothing will ever beat a first world title for anyone in any sport, that’s the first time you’ve done it. But this was just all about retaining it and adding my name to the list of world champions to go back to back.” He spoke of his in-match adjustments—”The first set I wasn’t happy, but I kicked on from there and said to myself, ‘give it time, you’ll find it'”—and even joked about distractions like the infamous Ally Pally wasp that briefly interrupted play.
Van Veen, gracious in defeat despite a subdued performance, echoed the respect: “Luke is a fantastic player… He played phenomenally. That’s why he’s world number one by a margin now and back-to-back world champion.” The Dutchman, who rises to a career-high ranking, admitted missing key chances but expressed pride in reaching his first final.
Littler’s path to glory was relentless. He navigated early rounds with ease before a commanding semi-final win, dropping just a handful of sets throughout the tournament. His dominance this year extends beyond Ally Pally: multiple major titles claimed, records shattered, and a gap widened atop the world rankings. Yet, in his moment of greatest triumph, it was his selflessness—thanking legends, honoring the bereaved, and praising his rival—that stood out most.
As Littler hoisted the trophy once more, sending an ominous message to rivals—”I’ll be around for a very long time… I’m here to win”—the darts world marveled not just at his arrows, but at the character behind them. At 18, he is already a double world champion, but moments like these suggest his legacy will be defined as much by class as by conquests.
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